Softening metal of the rolling surface railway wheel under the action of electric current impulses

Abstract

During operation railway wheels of various strength levels, cyclic changes in temperature and degree of plastic deformation are considered the main factors formation of metal damage on the rolling surface. The mechanism formation of fracture centers is based on achieving the maximum permissible limit accumulation of defects of crystalline structure in the metal of the rim of the railway wheel during rolling. Based on this, the main direction increasing the service life of railway wheels should be considered measures aimed at inhibiting process of formation of irreversible damage to the metal on the rolling surface. The achievement of this goal can be achieved qualitatively in different ways. Optimization chemical composition of wheel steel with subsequent heat treatment is the most common direction for improving the strength and crack resistance characteristics of railway wheels and their individual elements.