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IMPROVED PROFILES NEED SPECIAL GRINDING : EXPERTS IN WHEEL/RAIL INTERACTION ARE CUSTOM-DESIGNING RAIL PROFILES FOR RAILROADS

P Sroba, Eric Magel, Fred Prahl

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Abstract

Experts in wheel/rail interaction are custom-designing rail profiles for railroads based on the specific complexities of the particular stretch of track, this article states. Tremendous changes in the railway industry, from better tracks to better suspension in rail vehicles necessitates this custom-designing. Thousands of dollars are wasted grinding premium rails to less than optimum profiles that fail to minimize surface fatigue and actually promote wheel hollowing. The Center for Surface Transportation Technology (CSTT) has stepped in to analyze wheel-rail systems on newer lines to stop more waste. Key contributions discovered include geometrical stress raisers on some wheels. Mitigation has included fewer templates and wheels to increase the running surface of all wheels, and a tiered process of grinding to slowly bring existing lines up to new specifications.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Experts in wheel/rail interaction are custom-designing rail profiles for railroads based on the specific complexities of the particular stretch of track, this article states. Tremendous changes in the railway industry, from better tracks to better suspension in rail vehicles necessitates this custom-designing. Thousands of dollars are wasted grinding premium rails to less than optimum profiles that fail to minimize surface fatigue and actually promote wheel hollowing. The Center for Surface Transportation Technology (CSTT) has stepped in to analyze wheel-rail systems on newer lines to stop more waste. Key contributions discovered include geometrical stress raisers on some wheels. Mitigation has included fewer templates and wheels to increase the running surface of all wheels, and a tiered process of grinding to slowly bring existing lines up to new specifications.

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Available abstract

Experts in wheel/rail interaction are custom-designing rail profiles for railroads based on the specific complexities of the particular stretch of track, this article states. Tremendous changes in the railway industry, from better tracks to better suspension in rail vehicles necessitates this custom-designing. Thousands of dollars are wasted grinding premium rails to less than optimum profiles that fail to minimize surface fatigue and actually promote wheel hollowing. The Center for Surface Transportation Technology (CSTT) has stepped in to analyze wheel-rail systems on newer lines to stop more waste. Key contributions discovered include geometrical stress raisers on some wheels. Mitigation has included fewer templates and wheels to increase the running surface of all wheels, and a tiered process of grinding to slowly bring existing lines up to new specifications.

Key concepts: Grinding, Automotive engineering, Engineering, Track (disk drive), Third rail, Process (computing), Suspension (topology), Key (lock)

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IMPROVED PROFILES NEED SPECIAL GRINDING : EXPERTS IN WHEEL/RAIL INTERACTION ARE CUSTOM-DESIGNING RAIL PROFILES FOR RAILROADS — Research Paper | ScholarLens