The Effect of Various Contaminants on the Surface Tribological Properties of Rail and Wheel Materials: An Experimental Approach

Singh, Rabesh Kumar; Rawat, Prashant; Srivastava, Ashish Kumar; Singh, Gyanendra Kumar; Verma, Rajesh; Bhutto, Javed Khan; Hussein, Hany S.

doi:10.3390/coatings13030560

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 30 publications

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“…Current research on the effect of leaf contamination either focuses on traction recovery aspects, chemical and rheological characterizations, or combined effects of materials under various test scenarios [21,22]. Olofsson et al [23] have statistically studied the effects of leaves and humidity with a pin-on-disk setup.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Evaluation of Effect of Leaves on Railroad Tracks in Loss of Braking

Kumar,

Radmehr,

Ahmadian

2024

Machines

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This study aims to comprehensively assess the lubrication effect of leaves on wheel–rail contact dynamics using the Virginia Tech-Federal Railroad Administration (VT-FRA) Roller Rig, which closely simulates field conditions with precision and repeatability. Railway operators grapple with the seasonally recurring challenge of leaf contamination, which can cause partial loss of braking and lead to undesired events such as station overruns. Better understanding the adhesion-reducing impact of leaf contamination significantly improves railway engineering practices to counter their effects on train braking and traction. This experimental study evaluates the reduction in traction and braking forces (collectively called “adhesion”) as a function of leaf volume, using two leaf species that commonly grow along U.S. railroad tracks. The test methods rely on the chosen leaves’ transpiration characteristics while ensuring the result’s reproducibility. Leaves were symmetrically positioned on the wheel surface, centered around the mid-rib area within the wear band, and taped on the edges far from the wear band. The critical test parameters (i.e., wheel load, wheel velocity, and percentage creepage) are kept constant among the tests. At the same time, leaf volume is reduced from a maximum amount that covers the entire wheel surface (100% coverage) to no leaves (0%). The latter is used as the baseline. The percentage creepage is kept constant at an exaggerated amount of 2% to accelerate the test time. The results indicate a nonlinear relationship between leaf volume and the loss of braking. Even a small amount of leaf contamination causes a significant reduction in adhesion by as much as 50% compared with no contamination (i.e., baseline). Increasing leaf volume results in contact saturation, beyond which adhesion is not reduced. The minimum adhesion observed in this study is 20% of the maximum adhesion that occurs when no leaf contamination is present.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Evaluation of Effect of Leaves on Railroad Tracks in Loss of Braking

Kumar,

Radmehr,

Ahmadian

2024

Machines

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Advances in prediction methods of wear of rails

Yang,

Wang,

et al. 2025

Wear

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Analysis of 3k Experiments Applied to Railway Braking: Influence of Contaminants and Train Speed

Sandoval-Valencia,

Hurtado-Hurtado,

Huerta-Manzanilla

et al. 2024

Vehicles

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The presence of contaminants influences braking efficiency in the railway system because it alters the adhesion at the wheel–rail interface. It is essential to study this phenomenon, as contaminants reduce the friction between wheels and rails, which impacts braking and transport safety. In addition, these contaminants increase the risk of derailments. The objective of the research was to determine the impact of different contaminants and operating speeds on the critical braking system’s responses. Using the 3k full factorial experimental design methodology, with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear and quadratic regressions, visualized using surface graphs, the effects of three operating conditions were studied: clean rails, with sand and sawdust, and driving the train at three operating speeds. These conditions gave rise to variations in braking distances, maximum creep, wheel slip times, and maximum peaks of electric current when braking in each experiment. The tests were carried out on the straight section of a β-shaped track and a railway vehicle, designed at a scale of 1:20. The analysis reveals that the braking distance increases significantly with surface roughness (clean track < sawdust < sand). At 0.75 m/s, the sawdust track reduces braking distance by 21% compared with the clean track; at 1.00 m/s, the reduction is 19%; and at 1.30 m/s, it is 35%.

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The Effect of Various Contaminants on the Surface Tribological Properties of Rail and Wheel Materials: An Experimental Approach

Cited by 3 publications

References 30 publications

Experimental Evaluation of Effect of Leaves on Railroad Tracks in Loss of Braking

Experimental Evaluation of Effect of Leaves on Railroad Tracks in Loss of Braking

Advances in prediction methods of wear of rails

Analysis of 3k Experiments Applied to Railway Braking: Influence of Contaminants and Train Speed

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