An analysis of wear and spalling characteristics of the wheel steel under rolling-sliding conditions

The effects of the brake force, normal load, and carbon content on friction, wear, and spalling behaviours of the wheel steel are investigated in detail in rolling-sliding contact, using a new rolling testing apparatus developed on a tension-compression hydraulic machine with a high precision. Wear scars are examined and analysed by various microscopic examinations. The results show that the friction coefficient of the wheel steel increases and the wear mechanisms would change with increasing brake force. Furthermore, an increase in the brake force and normal load would cause an increase in the wear depth of the wheel steel and aggravate the spalling damage on the wear surface. The hardness, wear, and spalling behaviours; of the wheel steel depend strongly on the carbon content of the material. Decreasing carbon content of the wheel steel may alleviate spalling damage evidently, but would rapidly increase the wear depth of the specimen.