Wheel and rail material behaviour under operational loading conditions (CHARMEC MU42)

Research Project, 2025 – 2030

The main activity of the project is to develop laboratory test methods to better mimic the loadings experienced by wheel and rail steels in service and during maintenance. Knowledge of the evolution of mechanical properties and cracking characteristics could be used both for maintenance planning, and to assess the behaviour of new materials at an early stage before field testing. Thermal damage is often found in field samples of both rails and wheels due to wheel slip, braking or grinding. Such damage will be investigated, and methods will be further developed to replicate this condition in a reproducible manner. With a good understanding of crack initiation and early growth mechanisms under different loads, maintenance could be directed to remove the surface cracks while it is still feasible to do so with limited material removal. The aim is to enable reduction in environmental impact of railway operations while improving reliability and safety at a reasonable cost.