FEM Analysis on the Effect of the Slip on Fatigue Damage in Wheel Tread with White Layer
Ryota KONO, Hiroyuki AKEBONO, Masahiko KATO,Takanori KATO and Atsushi SUGETA
Abstract:Spalling is one of the typical rolling contact fatigue failure of railway wheels. In this study, in order to clarify the mechanism and the condition of fatigue crack initiation in wheel tread with white layer, elastic-plastic FEM analyses were conducted. The results are summarized as follows: Dang Van model, which is one of the multiaxial fatigue strength evaluation methods, was applied to evaluate the damage level of white layer. Accordingly, it is clear that fatigue crack has a tendency to originate at the leading edge of white layer particularly under slip condition. Furthermore, it is possible to identify the detailed position of fatigue crack initiation site by using accumulation damage value which was calculated by Dang Van model. According to plastic strain distribution of base metal around the white layer, the area which indicates high plastic strain value at the leading edge of white layer was larger than at the trailing edge. It is concluded that these plastic strain area of base metal at the leading edge of white layer contributes the fatigue damage around the white layer. Key Words:Rolling contact fatigue, Railway wheel, White layer, Dang Van model