Micro fracture investigations of white etching layers

The fracture behavior of a white etching layer formed on the rail surface in pearlitic steels during the rail-wheel contact is investigated using indentation-based microcantilever fracture tests. The sample thickness is in the order of 5 μm. The local fracture toughness of the white etching layer, its neighboring brown etching layer, martensite...

In situ study on fracture behaviour of white etching layers formed on rails

Failure in engineering materials like steels is strongly affected by in-service deleterious alterations in their microstructure. White Etching Layers (WELs) are an example of such in-service alterations in the pearlitic microstructure at the rail surface. Cracks initiate in the rails due to delamination and fracture of these layers and...