This paper presents the results of an ongoing investigation on Conrail of ways to improve the transport mechanism at the wheel-rail interface and the factors that adversely affect lubrication. Some of the parameters examined are highly technical and scientific, while others are related to business and human issues that also have significant influence on successfully reducing the coefficient of friction. Data for this study where derived from full scale testing and ongoing efforts by cross-functional lubrication quality improvement teams in the field. Specifically, this research is an attempt to quantify the various issues concerning lubricant propagation that have been either qualitatively reported in the literature or hypothesized from information obtained during revenue operations. Data sources include revenue service data from testing of unit coal trains on Conrail, two separate tests conducted by Conrail at the Association of Americal Railroads Transportation Test Center, and data taken as a part of an ongoing process improvement project on Conrail. Issues affecting lubrication propagation that are explored include the hysteresis effects reported during start up and dry down, the relationship of surface roughness to coefficient of friction measurements, effects of rail head and wheel flange geometries, relative effectiveness of various types of on-board and wayside lubrication devices, position and number of wayside lubricant applicators, ambient temperatures, lubricant viscosities (NLGI grade) and lubricant types. Parameters measured in the various tests include locomotive energy consumed (both total electrical and traction), coefficient of friction, rail and wheel geometries, ambient and rail head temperatures, lubricant volume used, and surface roughness of the rail head.
A parametric study of the lubrication transport mechanism at the rail-wheel interface
Eine parametrische Studie über den Mechanismus beim Schmiermitteltransport an der Grenzfläche Schiene-Rad
1996
8 Seiten, 8 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 8 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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