Detail publikace

Performance of top-of-rail products under contaminated conditions with pre-existing cracks: Impacts on traction and surface damage

SKURKA, Š. GALAS, R. LI, J. WANG, H. OMASTA, M. DING, H. WANG, W. KŘUPKA, I. HARTL, M.

Anglický název

Performance of top-of-rail products under contaminated conditions with pre-existing cracks: Impacts on traction and surface damage

Typ

Článek WoS

Jazyk

en

Originální abstrakt

Top-of-rail (TOR) products are used to optimise friction and reduce wear in the wheel-rail contact. However, their performance is affected by the presence of oxide layers naturally formed on the rail surface and by other environmental contaminants such as water. In this study, two types of TOR products (one friction modifier and one TOR lubricant) were tested under dry and wet conditions on both clean and oxidised specimens. In addition, some specimens were preconditioned to form pre-existing cracks, allowing a comparison between undamaged and damaged surfaces. The investigation focused on traction (CoT), wear rate, and rolling contact fatigue (RCF). The results showed that, with respect to CoT, water influenced the TOR lubricant much more than the friction modifier, as it extended its retentivity and led to extremely low friction levels (CoT down to 0.05). Both products effectively reduced wear and prevented crack initiation. However, when pre-existing cracks were present, the combination of water and the liquid base of TOR products accelerated crack propagation and caused severe spalling. Interestingly, oxidation also contributed to crack growth, as oxide formation inside the crack induced internal pressure that promoted secondary crack propagation.

Klíčová slova anglicky

Friction modification, Rolling-contact fatigue, Wear, Low friction, Wheel-rail contact, Iron oxides, Water

Vydáno

2026-03-01

Nakladatel

Elsevier

Časopis

Wear

Ročník

588

Číslo

March

Strany od–do

206520–

Počet stran

16

BIBTEX


@article{BUT200983,
  author="Šimon {Skurka} and Radovan {Galas} and Jiaxin {Li} and  {} and Milan {Omasta} and  {} and  {} and Ivan {Křupka} and Martin {Hartl}",
  title="Performance of top-of-rail products under contaminated conditions with pre-existing cracks: Impacts on traction and surface damage",
  journal="Wear",
  year="2026",
  volume="588",
  number="March",
  pages="16",
  doi="10.1016/j.wear.2026.206520",
  issn="0043-1648",
  url="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043164826000104"
}