Surface initiated fatigue of pearlitic and bainitic steels under water lubricated rolling/sliding contact

Abstract

The rolling contact fatigue behavior of steels that are, or could be, used for railroad rails is reviewed. Laboratory tests that reproduce the type of cracks observed in service rails have been employed to study the effects of maximum Hertzian contact pressure and slide/roll ratio on fatigue performance under water lubricated conditions. A comparison has been made of pearlitic and low/medium carbon, carbide free, bainitic steels. The development of ratchetting strains has been investigated and an empirical model produced.