Effects of surface defects on rolling contact fatigue of rail

초록

The speed and axle load of railway vehicles is becoming faster and heavier, which lead to severe deformation which in turn results in fatigue damage at the contact surface between wheel and rail. Rolling contact fatigue damages on the surface of rail such as head check, squats are one of growing problems. Squats are known to occur mostly in large-radius curved tracks, and head checks occur at the high rail in curves by cyclic plastic strain. Squats are originated from the white etching layer (WEL) or dents on rail surface and accompanied with dark spots including cracks. Another form of rail surface damage, known as