Shattered Rim Failure Modeling in Railroad Wheels

Author(s):  
Venkata S. Sura ◽  
Sankaran Mahadevan

Shattered rim cracking, propagation of a sub-surface crack parallel to the tread surface, is one of the dominant railroad wheel failure types observed in North America. This crack initiation and propagation life depends on several factors, such as wheel rim thickness, wheel load, residual stresses in the rim, and the size and location of material defects in the rim. This paper investigates the effect of above mentioned parameters on shattered rim cracking, using finite element analysis and fracture mechanics. This cracking is modeled using a three-dimensional, multi-resolution, elastic-plastic finite element model of a railroad wheel. Material defects are modeled as mathematically sharp cracks. Rolling contact loading is simulated by applying the wheel load on the tread surface over a Hertzian contact area. The equivalent stress intensity factor ranges at the subsurface crack tips are estimated using unimodal stress intensity factors obtained from the finite element analysis and a mixed-mode crack growth model. The residual stress and wheel wear effects are also included in modeling shattered rim cracking.

2013 ◽  
Vol 768-769 ◽  
pp. 714-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Konrad ◽  
Wolfgang Nierlich ◽  
Jürgen Gegner

Mixed friction acting in a rolling contact increases the v. Mises equivalent stress and shifts the maximum towards the surface. Tangential stresses are superimposed to the stress distribution. The resulting position of the maximum v. Mises stress depends on the magnitude of the friction coefficient and is located directly on the surface from values of about 0.25 upwards. The impact of three-dimensional machine vibrations on rolling bearings in operation can cause severe mixed friction running conditions. Residual stress distributions measured on indentation-free raceways indicate high friction coefficients of up to greater than 0.25. The surfaces reveal smoothing of the finishing structure but no adhesive wear. The simulation of the vibrationally loaded rolling-sliding contact is based on the tribological model of localized friction coefficient. This approach avoids seizing by allowing for increased friction only in intermittently changing subareas of the contact at low sliding speed. The macroscopic friction coefficient, meeting a mixing rule, does not exceed 0.1. The finite element method (FEM) is used for the stress analysis. In the first step, a simplified FEM model involves a circumferentially oriented band of high friction coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5 within a cylindrical roller contact. The resulting depth distributions of the v. Mises equivalent stress during overrolling and the corresponding residual stresses are evaluated below the inner ring raceway of the bearing. The features of the FEM model are discussed in detail. The increased sliding friction in the band shifts the maximum of the v. Mises equivalent stress to the surface. Compressive residual stresses are induced in the edge zone. Depending on the applied Hertzian pressure, an additional subsurface peak occurs. First results of the finite element analysis are presented.


Author(s):  
Venkata S. Sura ◽  
Sankaran Mahadevan

Vertical split rim cracking, rapid unstable propagation of a sub-surface crack parallel to the front rim face, is one of the dominant railroad wheel failure types observed in North America. Wheel impact load is believed to be a trigger for this unstable crack growth. This rapid crack growth rate depends on several factors, such as wheel geometry (wheel diameter and rim thickness), load magnitude, load location, residual stresses in the rim, worn tread profile, and material defects in the rim (size, shape, location, and orientation). This paper investigates the effect of these parameters on vertical split rim cracking, using finite element analysis and fracture mechanics. Vertical split rim cracking is modeled using a three-dimensional, multiresolution, elastic-plastic finite element analysis. Material defects are modeled as mathematically sharp cracks. Wheel impacts are simulated by applying a high axle load on the tread surface. The residual stress and wheel wear effects are also included in modeling vertical split rim cracking.


1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Blevins

The elastic thermal stresses in a welded transition between two pipes of the same size but different alloys are explored. A stress-free temperature is postulated and the stress due to a uniform change in temperature is characterized by the maximum stress intensity in the weld. A simple expression for predicting this maximum stress intensity is developed based on the results of finite element analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Zheng ◽  
Yi Cai ◽  
Kelun Tang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to realize the lightweight of connecting rod and meet the requirements of low energy consumption and vibration. Based on the structural design of the original connecting rod, the finite element analysis was conducted to reduce the weight and increase the natural frequencies, so as to reduce materials consumption and improve the energy efficiency of internal combustion engine. Design/methodology/approach The finite element analysis, structural optimization design and topology optimization of the connecting rod are applied. Efficient hybrid method is deployed: static and modal analysis; and structure re-design of the connecting rod based on topology optimization. Findings After the optimization of the connecting rod, the weight is reduced from 1.7907 to 1.4875 kg, with a reduction of 16.93%. The maximum equivalent stress of the optimized connecting rod is 183.97 MPa and that of the original structure is 217.18 MPa, with the reduction of 15.62%. The first, second and third natural frequencies of the optimized connecting rod are increased by 8.89%, 8.85% and 11.09%, respectively. Through the finite element analysis and based on the lightweight, the maximum equivalent stress is reduced and the low-order natural frequency is increased. Originality/value This paper presents an optimization method on the connecting rod structure. Based on the statics and modal analysis of the connecting rod and combined with the topology optimization, the size of the connecting rod is improved, and the static and dynamic characteristics of the optimized connecting rod are improved.


2008 ◽  
Vol 575-578 ◽  
pp. 1461-1466
Author(s):  
Byeong Choon Goo ◽  
Jung Won Seo

Railcar wheels and axles belong to the most critical components in railway vehicles. The service conditions of railway vehicles have been more severe in recent years due to speed-up. Therefore, a more precise evaluation of railcar wheel life and safety has been requested. Wheel/rail contact fatigue and thermal cracks due to braking are two major mechanisms of the railcar wheel failure. One of the main sources influencing on the contact zone failure is residual stress. The residual stress in wheels formed during heat treatment in manufacturing changes in the process of braking. Thus the fatigue life of railcar wheels should be estimated by considering both thermal stress and rolling contact. Also, the effect of residual stress variation due to manufacturing process and braking process should be included in simulating contact fatigue behavior. In this paper, an evaluation procedure for the contact fatigue life of railcar wheels considering the effects of residual stresses due to heat treatment, braking and repeated contact load is proposed. And the cyclic stressstrain history for fatigue analysis is simulated by finite element analysis for the moving contact load.


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