Effect of pearlite interlamellar spacing on fatigue property of a wheel steel

Abstract

Different pearlite interlamellar spacings of 0.54 % carbon (C) wheel steel were obtained by heat treatment, and the influence of interlamellar spacing on fatigue behavior of the steel was studied through conducting the staircase method fatigue testing and decreasing/increasing stress intensity factor range (ΔK) fatigue crack growth tests. The results indicate that the fatigue endurance limit and fatigue threshold with smaller interlamellar spacing are higher than those with larger one, which can be well explained by dislocation slipping theory. Furthermore, the fatigue crack growth rates in the near‐threshold and Paris regions were found to reduce with decreasing the interlamellar spacing. The decreased growth rate is attributed to the deflected crack path induced crack closure effect, as evidenced by fatigue steps on the fatigue fracture surface. The present results show how to enhance the fatigue property of wheel steel through refining the pearlite interlamellar spacing.

Application on DCPD Real-Time Monitoring of Fatigue Crack Propagation

“…Periodic deformation makes the slip band wider, and then dislocations accumulate and intersect, resulting in the appearance of an extruded structure. The process can be seen that uneven local slip and microscopic cracking are the factors that cause fatigue crack initiation [4].…”

Comparative Fatigue Performance of Decarburized Surfaces in Railway Rails

“…The influence of wheel/rail contact conditions on the microstructure and hardness of railway wheels has also been explored, highlighting the impact of the properties of the wheel material on its susceptibility to wear and RCF damage [32]. Moreover, the effect of pearlite interlamellar spacing on the fatigue property of wheel steel has been studied, emphasizing the use of pearlite steel due to its high strength, hardness, and wear resistance [33].…”