Fatigue lifetime estimation of railway axles

0481281 - ÚFM 2018 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Náhlík, Luboš - Pokorný, Pavel - Ševčík, Martin - Fajkoš, R. - Matušek, P. - Hutař, Pavel
Fatigue lifetime estimation of railway axles.
Engineering Failure Analysis. Roč. 73, MAR (2017), s. 139-157. ISSN 1350-6307. E-ISSN 1873-1961
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LM2015069; GA MŠMT(CZ) ED1.1.00/02.0068
Institutional support: RVO:68081723
Keywords : Residual fatigue lifetime * Railway axle * Variable amplitude loading * Fatigue crack propagation * Damage tolerance methodology
OECD category: Audio engineering, reliability analysis
Impact factor: 2.157, year: 2017

The railway axles are subjected to cyclic loading during their operation. Their load is of long-
term nature, therefore a real risk of fatigue failure exists. This failure could lead to derailment
of the whole train with serious consequences. To prevent such scenario, the railway axles have
to be safely removed from operation before their final failure occurs.
This paper presents methodology for the residual fatigue lifetime prediction of the railway axle
based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics concept. The methodology contains estimation of
the critical position of initial crack, prediction of the fatigue crack front shape development
during crack propagation, separation of the bending and press-fitting contributions to the
axle load, experimental measurement of the crack growth kinetics of EA4T steel and subse-
quent estimation of the residual fatigue lifetime of railway axle. Part of the presented study
is also devoted to the probability aspects of determination of material characteristics describing
fatigue crack propagation and retardation effects caused by existence of plastic zone ahead of
propagating fatigue crack. Described methodology is already applied in the design process of
new railway axles in Bonatrans company.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0276891