Identifying the root causes of damage on the wheels of heavy haul locomotives and its mitigation

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit
• Main Authors: Ekberg, Anders, Kabo, Elena, Karttunen, Kalle, Lindqvist, B., Lundén, Roger, Nordmark, T., Olovsson, J., Salomonsson, O., Vernersson, Tore V
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Mechanical Engineering; Transport Systems and Logistics; Other Materials Engineering; Other Civil Engineering; railway wheel maintenance; damage investigation; Rolling contact fatigue; Norway; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/0954409714526165; https://research.chalmers.se/en/publication/203282

The paper illustrates how damage patterns in the form of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) on wheels, can be employed to identify and improve underlying operational conditions. The focus is on RCF of locomotive wheels operating on the Iron Ore Line in northern Sweden and Norway. Seasonal changes and damage patterns are charted. Potential root causes for observed damage patterns are identified and investigated. Mitigating actions are proposed and the efficiency of implemented actions is quantified.