The effect of Subzero temperature and snow on the tribology of wheel-rail contact

Y. Lyu, E. Bergseth, U. Olofsson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingPaper in conference proceedingpeer-review

Abstract

The wheel-rail system operates in an open environment where the weather condition varies constantly. In this laboratory study, an investigation using a pin-on-disc tribometer placed in a temperature-controlled room was conducted to examine the effect of subzero temperature and snow on friction and wear at the wheel-rail contact. In temperature range from 3 to-15 °C (without snow) friction and wear were dominated by low temperature brittleness, which led to an increase in friction and wear. When temperature decreased down to-25 °C, an ice layer condensed on the pin and disc surfaces, which then melted during sliding and acted as a lubricant, leading to the sharp decrease of friction and wear. When snow crystals were added into the contact they melted into water droplets during sliding because of pressure melting and reduced the friction and wear following the boundary lubrication mechanism. With increasing temperature from-25 to 3 °C, friction performed monotonously decreasing because of the increasing thickness of the water layer. A large area of oxide flakes generated on the worn surfaces also significantly protected the contacting wheels and rails from severe wear.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE
Place of PublicationStirlingshire
PublisherCivil-Comp Press
ISBN (Print)978-1-905088-65-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes
EventThird International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance - Cagliari, Italy
Duration: 2016 Apr 52016 Apr 8

Publication series

NameCivil-Comp Proceedings
PublisherCivil-Comp Press
Volume110
ISSN (Print)1759-3433

Conference

ConferenceThird International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityCagliari
Period2016/04/052016/04/08

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Civil-Comp Press, 2016.

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Tribology

Free keywords

  • Brittleness
  • Friction
  • Oxides
  • Pearlite
  • Pin-on-disc
  • Precipitation
  • Saturation vapour pressure
  • Snow
  • Steel
  • Temperature
  • Wear
  • Wheel-rail contact

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effect of Subzero temperature and snow on the tribology of wheel-rail contact'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this