Crane Wheel / Crane Rail Interface Testing of Material Wear Properties
Jan 04, 2016
Crane Wheel / Crane Rail Interface
Testing of Material Wear Properties
History of Wheel / Rail InterfaceMaterials and Heat Treatment
No test data available for Hard Wheel / Soft Rail CombinationInformation almost all anecdotalApplication successes and failures
Many variables to considerCrane OperationRunway and Building ConditionWheels and Rails
Sizes, Materials, Heat TreatmentsUsers concerned about switching to Hard Wheel
Initial belief is the Hard Wheel may act like a tool and cut into the soft rail
Wheel - Rail Interface
Sub-Surface Shear – Leads to Spalling
Sub-Surface Shear Leads to Spalling
High Surface Stress at Impact – Leads to
Flange Breakage
CONTACT STRESS - LEADS TO
ADHESIVE WEAR
Adhesive Wear on FlangesNon-Lubricated Metal-to-Metal Contact
Adhesive Wear on FlangesNon-Lubricated Metal-to-Metal Contact
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Bri
ne
ll H
ard
ne
ss
Hard Wheel Test Sample
581 BHN(56 HRc)
Soft Wheel Test Sample
280 BHN
Hardened Wheel578 - 690 BHN(56 - 62 HRc)Hardened Wheel
420 - 481 BHN(45 - 50 HRc)
Rim Toughened Wheel
321 - 363 BHN
Cast Wheel250 - 300 BHN
Wheel Test Samplesv. Wheel Hardness
Materials AISI 1055, 1070, 4140Rim Toughened based on ASTM A504 Class C
Rail Test Samplesv. Rail Hardness
200
250
300
350
400
450
Bri
ne
ll H
ard
ne
ss
Soft RailTest Sample
285 BHN
Control Cooled Rail
248 - 320 BHN
Head Hardened Rail321 - 388 BHN
Material based on ASTM A759Carbon 0.67% - 0.84%
The Battelle InstituteInformation on Test Laboratory
Technology Development for Industry and GovernmentBased in Columbus, Ohio
7,500 Research Scientists and EngineersEuro 1 Billion Annually in Revenue for ResearchServes over 2000 Companies and Government Agencies50-100 Patents / yearOperates 4 National Laboratories
Material Test Parameters
Pressure = 13.8 MPa Stroke Length = 28 mm Cycle = 2 Strokes Speed = 25 mm/sec Delay Between Stroke = 4.9 sec Room Temperature Air Blown to Clear Debris
BattelleTest Rig
Wheel Wear
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Cycles
Wea
r D
epth
(m
m)
Soft Wheelv.
Soft Rail
Hard Wheelv.
Soft Rail
Rail Wear
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Cycles
Wea
r D
epth
(m
m)
Soft Wheelv.
Soft Rail
Hard Wheelv.
Soft Rail
Material Test Samples after 10,000 Cycles
Hard Wheel Material
Soft Rail Material
Soft Wheel Material
Soft Rail Material
Wear Depth Test Results10,000 Cycles
Worst combination for wear is Soft Wheel – Soft RailBest combination for wear is Hard Wheel – Soft Rail
2.118
0.068
1.158
0.0530.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
Soft Rail-Soft Wheel Soft Rail-Hard Wheel
We
ar
De
pth
(m
m)
Rail Wear Wheel Wear
Crane Wheel / Crane Rail Interface
Testing of Material Wear Properties
Thanks for your attention!