The higher order surface wave, or Sezawa wave, is evaluated as the detection and measurement mechanism for traffic hardened Iayers in used rails. Hardness tests were conducted on rail specimens with known traffic volume (in terms of million gross tons) to determine surface and subsurface hardness gradients, prior to ultrasonic testing. Metallographic analyses were also undertaken on these rail specimens. The performance specification was defined in terms of the three rolling contact fatigue crack growth stages that occur in these layers: Stage 1- characterized by micro cracks 0.25 mm (0.01 in.) deep that grow slowly Stage II- defined by rolling contact fatigue cracks that grow from 1 to 3 mm (0.04 to 0.12 in.) at an accelerated rate Stage III - rolling contact fatigue branching that may occur in the traffic hardened layer with accelerated crack propagation in the vertical direction at depths between 4 and 7 mm (0.16 and 0.28 in.). The tests using the Sezawa wave technology demonstrated the ability to interrogate and resolve traffic hardened layers in the depth ranges of 0 to 1 mm, 1 to 3 mm and 4 to 7 mm (0 to 0.04, 0.04 to 0.12 and 0.16 to 0.28 in.). The minimum Brinell hardness (HB) gradient, between the hardened layer and underlying rail, required to support Sezawa wave generation was also investigated and determined to be greater than 20 HB. Finally, the technology was tested on lubricated rails, showing that Sezawa waves, unlike Rayleigh waves, can travel on such surfaces with excellent signal-to-noise ratio and therefore, can be applied to both dry and lubricated rails.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Rail surface characterization


    Additional title:

    Charakterisierung von Schienenoberflächen


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Materials Evaluation ; 66 , 11 ; 1144-1151


    Publication date :

    2008


    Size :

    8 Seiten, 10 Bilder, 4 Tabellen, 5 Quellen



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    Modeling and characterization of large shear strains at a rail surface

    Daves, W. / Fischer, F.D. / Stadlbauer, W. et al. | Tema Archive | 2003



    RAILROAD RAIL SURFACE CORRECTION DEVICE

    KIMURA NORIYUKI / SASA HIROAKI / NEMOTO TAKUYA et al. | European Patent Office | 2019

    Free access

    Evaluation method for smooth state of rail surface of steel rail

    LI YINGQI / LIANG XU / WANG MENG et al. | European Patent Office | 2023

    Free access

    Turnout rail piece rail surface falling block detection method and device

    WANG YULIN / HUANG KE / HONG XIAOJIE et al. | European Patent Office | 2023

    Free access