The coefficient of friction between railway wheels and rails is crucial to railway operation and maintenance. Since the wheel-rail system is an open system, environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature, affect the friction coefficient. Pin-on-disc testing was conducted to study the influence of environmental conditions and iron oxides on the coefficient of friction between the wheel and rail. The iron oxides were pre-created in a climate chamber. The surfaces of the tested samples were analysed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron/focused ion beam microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Results indicate that the coefficient of friction decreases with increasing RH (relative humidity) up to a saturation level. Above this level, the coefficient of friction remains low and stable even when the RH increases. In particular, when the temperature is low, a small increase in the amount of water (i.e., absolute humidity) in the air can significantly reduce the coefficient of friction. At high humidity levels, a water molecule film can keep the generated haematite on the surfaces, counterbalancing the effect of rising humidity.
Friction between wheel and rail: A pin-on-disc study of environmental conditions and iron oxides
Tribology Letters ; 52 , 2 ; 327-339
2013
13 Seiten, 21 Bilder, 7 Tabellen, 31 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
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