Carry distance of top-of-rail friction modifiers

Author(s):  
Saad Ahmed Khan ◽  
Jan Lundberg ◽  
Christer Stenström

Rail issues such as corrugation, rolling contact fatigue, noise and wear have been increasing with the increase in railway traffic. The application of top-of-rail friction modifiers (TOR-FMs) is claimed by their manufacturers in the railway industry to be a well-established technique for resolving the above-mentioned issues. There are various methods for applying friction modifiers at the wheel–rail interface, among which stationary wayside systems are recommended by TOR-FM manufacturers when a distance of a few kilometres is to be covered. TOR-FM manufacturers also claim that by using wayside equipment, the TOR-FM can be spread over a minimum distance of 3 km, over which it maintains a coefficient of friction of µ = 0.35 ± 0.05. To determine the carry distance of TOR-FMs, some researchers use tribometers to measure the coefficients of friction. However, moisture and deposits from the environment and trains can alter the top-of-rail friction and give a misleading indication of the presence of a friction modifier. Therefore, the coefficient of friction itself is not a clear indicator of the presence of TOR-FMs. In the present study, cotton swabs dipped in a mixture of alcohol and ester were used to collect surface deposits (a third body) from both the wheel and rail at various distances from the point of application. Subsequently, the third body collected on the cotton swab was analysed using an energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The results have shown that the maximum carry distance of TOR-FMs on the top of the rail is limited to 70 m when using a TOR-FM from one manufacturer and to 450 m when using a TOR-FM from another manufacturer. The carry distance on the contact band of the wheel is limited to 100 m and 340 m. The friction modifier on the edges of the contact band was detected over a distance of up to 3 km; however, this will not minimise the damage or friction at the wheel–rail interface.

Lubricants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Gerald Trummer ◽  
Zing Siang Lee ◽  
Roger Lewis ◽  
Klaus Six

The coefficient of friction between a wheel tread and the top of the rail should be maintained at intermediate levels to limit frictional tangential contact forces. This can be achieved by applying top-of-rail products. Reducing the coefficient of friction to intermediate levels reduces energy consumption and fuel costs, as well as damage to the wheel and rail surfaces, such as, e.g., wear, rolling contact fatigue, and corrugation. This work describes a simulation model that predicts the evolution of the coefficient of friction as a function of the number of wheel passes and the distance from the application site for wayside application of top-of-rail products. The model considers the interplay of three mechanisms, namely the pick-up of product by the wheel at the application site, the repeated transfer of the product between the wheel and rail surfaces, and the product consumption. The model has been parameterized with data from small-scale twin disc rig experiments and full-scale wheel–rail rig experiments. Systematic investigations of the model behaviour for a railway operating scenario show that all three mechanisms may limit the achievable carry-on distance of the product. The developed simulation model assists in understanding the interplay of the mechanisms that govern the evolution of the coefficient of friction in the field. It may aid in finding optimal product application strategies with respect to application position, application amount, and application pattern depending on specific railway operating conditions.


Author(s):  
Saad Ahmed Khan ◽  
Ingemar Persson ◽  
Jan Lundberg ◽  
Christer Stenström

Rolling contact fatigue is a major problem connected with railway tracks, especially in curves, since it leads to higher maintenance costs. By optimising the top-of-rail friction, the wear and cracks on the top of the rail can eventually be reduced without causing very long braking distances. There are several research articles available on crack prediction, but most of the research is focused either on rail without a friction modifier or on wheels with and without friction control. In the present study, in order to predict the formation of surface-initiated rolling contact fatigue, a range of friction coefficients with different Kalker’s reduction factors has been assumed. Kalker’s reduction factor takes care of the basic tendency of creepage as a function of the traction forces at lower creepage. The assumed range covers possible friction values from those for non-lubricated rail to those for rail with a minimum measured friction control on the top of the rail using a friction modifier. A fatigue index model based on the shakedown theory was used to predict the generation of surface-initiated rolling contact fatigue. Simulations were performed using multi-body simulation, for which inputs were taken from the Iron Ore line in the north of Sweden. The effect of friction control was studied for different curve radii, ranging from 200 m to 3000 m, and for different axle loads from 30 to 40 tonnes at a constant train speed of 60 km/h. One example of a result is that a maximum friction coefficient (µ) of 0.2 with a Kalker’s reduction factor of 15% is needed in the case of trains with a heavy axle load to avoid crack formation.


Wear ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 271 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 134-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Stock ◽  
Donald T. Eadie ◽  
Dave Elvidge ◽  
Kevin Oldknow

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 1841003
Author(s):  
Mir Ali Ghaffari ◽  
Yanjue Gong ◽  
Siamak Attarian ◽  
Shaoping Xiao

There is a boundary effect due to incomplete horizons of boundary or near-boundary points in peridynamics. In this paper, we propose to attach “fictitious walls” to boundary surfaces so that the boundary effect can be reduced or eliminated. Differing from the concept of “fictitious material layers”, which is only attached to displacement boundary surfaces, “fictitious walls” are attached to both displacement and force boundary surfaces. Three types of fictitious walls are considered in this paper: undeformed, deformed, and periodic. It is recommended to attach “undeformed fictitious walls” to displacement boundaries and “deformed fictitious walls” to force boundaries. “Periodic fictitious walls” are suggested for use in peristatics only. In addition, peridynamics with corrected boundary conditions is then implemented in a hierarchical multiscale method to study rolling contact fatigue. In this hierarchical multiscale framework, the coefficient of friction is passed from molecular dynamics simulations to peridynamics, which models crack initiation and propagation in rolling contact simulations.


Author(s):  
Xin Lu ◽  
Tony W Makowsky ◽  
Donald T Eadie ◽  
Kevin Oldknow ◽  
Jilian Xue ◽  
...  

Shuohuang Railway (SHR) is one of the major coal carriers in China, with a total network length of 590 km running from Shenchi to Huanghua. Significant increases in annual operating tonnage have generated accelerated rail wear and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) growth problems for many sharper/lower radius curves. In order to address these rail problems, SHR is interested in the state-of-the-art total friction management (TFM) technology currently deployed by some North American heavy haul freight railroads and is evaluating the impact of TFM via a field trial at SHR’s Yuanping subdivision. This paper presents an evaluation of the effect of TFM, which includes both wayside gauge face lubrication and wayside application of a thin film top of rail friction modifier on control of lateral forces, rail wear and RCF.


Wear ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 265 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1222-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald T. Eadie ◽  
Dave Elvidge ◽  
Kevin Oldknow ◽  
Richard Stock ◽  
Peter Pointner ◽  
...  

Friction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingdong Song ◽  
Lubing Shi ◽  
Haohao Ding ◽  
Radovan Galas ◽  
Milan Omasta ◽  
...  

AbstractIn railway network, friction is an important factor to consider in terms of the service behaviors of wheel-rail system. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a solid friction modifier (FM) in a railway environment. This was achieved by studying the friction, wear, and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage on the wheel-rail materials at different slip ratios. The results showed that when a solid FM was applied, the friction coefficient decreased. After the solid FM was separated from the wheel-rail interface, the friction coefficient gradually increased to its original level. With the application of the solid FM, the wear rates of the wheel-rail decreased. In addition, the thickness and hardness of the plastic deformation layers of the wheel-rail materials were reduced. The worn surfaces of the wheel-rail were dominated by pits and RCF cracks. Without the FM, RCF cracks ranged from 84 to 120 µm, and subsurface cracks were generated. However, with the FM, RCF cracks ranged from 17 to 97 µm and no subsurface cracks were generated. These findings indicate possible methods of improving the performance of railway rolling stock by managing friction, and reducing wear and permanent RCF damage affecting both the wheels and rails.


Author(s):  
M. A. Oomen ◽  
R. Bosman ◽  
P.M. Lugt

Reliable traction between wheel and rail is an important issue in the railway industry. To reduce variations in the coefficient of friction, so-called “friction modifiers” (carrier with particles) are used. Twin-disk tests were done with three commercial friction modifiers, based on different compositions of carrier and particles, to characterize their friction and wear behavior. It is shown experimentally that the influence of the carrier cannot be neglected just after application and very low (0.01-0.05) frictional values are observed in a fully flooded situation. However, starvation occurs quickly and friction values will become relatively stable at an intermediate level around μ=0.2 until the friction modifier is consumed and a new dose is required. After the carrier is pushed out of the running track the particles in the contact dominate the tribological performance. The level of friction is a function of total rolling distance, effective sliding length and sum velocity. The most dominant factor depends on the friction modifier and the working mechanism for friction stabilization. It is also shown that the wear rates during tests do not depend significantly on slip, which makes it possible to predict wear behavior. Wear rates are dependent on the type of friction modifier used.


2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Won Seo ◽  
Hyun-Kyu Jun ◽  
Seok-Jin Kwon ◽  
Dong-Hyeong Lee

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document