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Changes in the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Railway Wheel Steels as a Result of the Thermal Load Caused by Shoe Braking

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Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the effects caused by shoe braking on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ER7, CLASS B, CLASS C, and SANDLOS® wheels as a result of the thermal load. Particular attention was given to cases of exposure to medium and high temperatures, namely from 700 °C to 970 °C, followed by air cooling. Hardness measurements, tensile tests, toughness tests, fatigue crack growth tests, and microstructural observations were carried out on samples extracted from new wheels, with and without heat treatments simulating the microstructural modifications caused by shoe braking. The experiments showed that the hardness, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the steels all decrease with the heat-treatment temperature up to 750 °C due to globular pearlite formation. However, after the heat treatment at 970 °C, these properties show a trend inversion, as the globular pearlite no longer appears, while, in some cases, traces of bainite and martensite are observed. On the other hand, the fracture toughness, crack propagation threshold, and rate are not significantly altered by the heat treatments, showing the steels to have a good stability under the thermal loads caused by shoe braking.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Paolo Frassi and Bruno Tratta for their support in the experimental activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy

    Michela Faccoli & Angelo Mazzù

  2. Lucchini RS, Via G. Paglia 45, 24065, Lovere, BG, Italy

    Andrea Ghidini

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  1. Michela Faccoli
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  2. Andrea Ghidini
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  3. Angelo Mazzù
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Correspondence to Michela Faccoli.

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Manuscript submitted September 10, 2018.

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Faccoli, M., Ghidini, A. & Mazzù, A. Changes in the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Railway Wheel Steels as a Result of the Thermal Load Caused by Shoe Braking. Metall Mater Trans A 50, 1701–1714 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-019-05135-x

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