Effects of Thermal Load on the Fatigue Strength of Locomotive Wheels

In order to study how the thermal load caused by braking temperature effects on the fatigue strength of locomotive wheels, with the finite element method,the changes of wheel's temperature field and stress field in the emergency braking process are simulated. And the wheel's fatigue strength based on the theory of uniaxial fatigue is analyzed.The result shows that the main factor leading to the wheel rim's thermal fatigue is the dynamic stress cycle as high as 750MPa in the circumferential direction of the tread.The von mises stress in certain areas of the web plate could increase 50percent,And the emergency braking process can result in 15percent fluctuation of the dynamic stress amplitude,thereby it increases the probability of wheel fatigue failure.