Wear due to Rolling Friction

Abstract

Experiments have been made to evaluate wear due to rolling friction using an “Amsler” wear tester. Materials employed in rails and railway tyres and wheels were tested. Although a few tests were made under (nominally) pure rolling conditions, in most of the tests 10% longitudinal slip and controlled to and for lateral motion of the specimen were included, the better to simulate service conditions. Influence of load and speed has been studies for a particular combination of materials e.g. medium manganese rail steel against wheel or tyre steel. The wearing qualities of different rail materials have also been compared. It has been observed that the kinetic friction and the rate of wear were high in the initial stages of test, but both decreased subsequently, presumably due to work-hardening of the mating surfaces. Wear products produced during test appeared to have an important effect in accelerating wear rate, dulling and roughening the mating surfaces and increasing friction and the depth of the cold work.