Crack Propagation under Rolling Contact Fatigue near the White Etching Layer of a Railway Wheel

Abstract

A railway wheel flat occurs when the wheel locks and slides along the rail, forming a white etching layer (WEL) just under the flat surface where rolling contact fatigue cracks often form that can propagate into the wheel and spall during service. This study comprehensively investigated the influencing factors on wheel crack propagation that lead to spalling. Experiments were conducted to test wheel specimens with WELs of various dimensions, and simulations were performed to evaluate the stresses near the WELs as well as the rate and direction of crack propagation.