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Numerical modelling of rolling contact fatigue damage initiation from non-metallic inclusions in bearing steel

Ravi, Gopalakrishnan (author), De Waele, Wim (author), Nikolic, Ksenija (author), Petrov, R.H. (author), Hertelé, Stijn (author)

Bearing failure is a cause of concern in a variety of machinery such as turbines, transmissions, drills, engines, etc. It is often associated with rolling contact fatigue (RCF) triggered from damage initiation at non-metallic inclusions (NMI's). Experimental evidence shows that damage initiation lifetime is highly sensitive to the NMI...

journal article 2023

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Uncovering the white etching area and crack formation mechanism in bearing steel

Nikolic, Ksenija (author), Mattos Ferreira, V. (author), Malet, Loïc (author), Depover, Tom (author), Verbeken, Kim (author), Petrov, R.H. (author)

The microstructure of a damaged bearing from the field was characterized in this work with the intention to better understand microstructural features behind formation of White Etching Cracks (WEC) in bearings. Microstructural characterization of the altered white etching area (WEA) involved conventional electron backscattered diffraction ...

journal article 2023

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Confirming Debonding of Non-Metallic Inclusions as an Important Factor in Damage Initiation in Bearing Steel

Nikolic, Ksenija (author), De Wispelaere, Jelle (author), Ravi, Gopalakrishnan (author), Hertelé, Stijn (author), Depover, Tom (author), Verbeken, Kim (author), Petrov, R.H. (author)

Damage in bearings is closely associated with the presence of microstructural alterations, known as white etching areas (WEAs) and white etching cracks (WECs). One of the main reasons for the creation of these microstructural alterations is the presence of defects in the material, such as non-metallic inclusions. Manganese sulfides and...

journal article 2023

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Prediction of lifetime and failure mechanisms of rolling contacts in DOT Direct Drive Pump

Houwen, Jeroen (author)

In recent years, the increased need for renewable energy has put more interest in wind energy and therefore in making wind turbines more efficient and building them as efficiently and cheap as possible. Delft Offshore Turbines (DOT) is developing a drivetrain that replaces the heavy and expensive parts in the nacelle of a...

master thesis 2021

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The effect of bidirectional traffic on the microstructure, mechanical properties and rolling contact fatigue defect formation of rail material

Huisman, Jorik (author)

On the railway line between Zutphen and Hengelo in the Netherlands, rolling contact fatigue (RCF) defects are found at the surface of the rail. RCF is a known hazard to the safe operation of railways, the cracks can cause transverse rail fracture, which may result in derailment. Contrary to convention, the traffic on this particular railway is...

master thesis 2021

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On the genesis of squat-type defects on rails: Toward a unified explanation

Steenbergen, M.J.M.M. (author)

Different origination theories for squat-type rail defects are examined and confronted with experimental evidence. Based on the morphology of the three-dimensional defect crack pattern, with a leading crack directivity governed by the tangential stress history, it is shown that theories assuming dynamic wheel-rail interaction as a direct...

journal article 2021

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Investigation on rail corrugation grinding criterion based on coupled vehicle–track dynamics and rolling contact fatigue model

Liang, Hongqin (author), Li, Wei (author), Zhou, Zhijun (author), Wen, Zefeng (author), Li, S. (author), An, Dong (author)

Based on the measured spectra of rail roughness and track structures longitudinal roughness, the rail grinding limit is studied with the help of an established coupled dynamic metro vehicle–track model and a rolling contact fatigue model. The results indicate that metro rail grinding control should be regulated according to corrugation...

journal article 2021

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Switch Panel Structural Performance (SP2)

Hiensch, E.J.M. (author)

doctoral thesis 2019

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Stratified surface layers on rails

Messaadi, M. (author), Steenbergen, M.J.M.M. (author)

This study examines the properties of stratified surface layers on rails in service and presents a hypothesis explaining their origin. The stratified layer consists of a white etching top layer and a brown sublayer. The metallurgical composition and properties of this sublayer are found to match with that of globular bainite. The occurrence...

journal article 2018

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Investigation of the formation of corrugation-induced rail squats based on extensive field monitoring

Deng, X. (author), Qian, Zhiwei (author), Li, Z. (author), Dollevoet, R.P.B.J. (author)

Rail squats originate from a number of sources, such as corrugations, indentations and welds. A five-year continual field monitoring study was performed on squats induced by corrugations. This study indicated that a small black depression formed at the corrugation under wheel-rail dynamic forces, and then, a primary crack typically initiated...

journal article 2018

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Rolling Contact Fatigue on premium rail grades: Damage function development from field data

Hiensch, E.J.M. (author), Steenbergen, M.J.M.M. (author)

The concept of the rail damage function provides vital understanding of the operational performance of rail grades in terms of surface degradation. The present study extends this concept from conventional to premium pearlitic rail. This is done on the basis of both simulations of dynamic train-track interaction and field observations. Rolling...

journal article 2018

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Data Analytics for the of RCF Damages on the Dutch High Speed Line

Schalk, R. (author), Nunez, Alfredo (author), Zoeteman, A. (author), Wolfert, A.R.M. (author)

During a typical measurement campaign, lots of temporal and spatial data can be gathered regarding the condition of the rail. This paper proposes two approaches that make use of data analytics techniques to find causes of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damages. The first approach, named ‘bottom-up approach’, determines the influencing factors...

conference paper 2017

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Computation of stress intensity factors in an initiating RCF crack using a 3D modelling approach

Naeimi, M. (author), Li, Z. (author), Dollevoet, R.P.B.J. (author)

conference paper 2017

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Application of a bottom-up approach for the analysis of rolling contact fatigue in the Dutch high speed line

Schalk, R. (author), Zoeteman, A. (author), Nunez, Alfredo (author), Wolfert, A.R.M. (author)

This paper describes the use of big data analytics for understanding the Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) phenomena at the High Speed Line (HSL Zuid) in The Netherlands. The authors developed a data model to investigate the impacting parameters in train-track interaction. This has been done to gain more insight<br/>about the circumstances under...

conference paper 2017

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Using data analytics to understand why certain rail sections at the Dutch high-speed line are affected by RCF

Schalk, Ricks (author), Zoeteman, A. (author), Nunez, Alfredo (author), Wolfert, A.R.M. (author)

This paper describes the use of big data for analysing Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) phenomena at the High Speed Line (HSL Zuid) in The Netherlands. The authors developed a data model to investigate the impacting parameters in train-track interaction. This has been done to gain more insight in the circumstances where RCF occurs and to conclude...

conference paper 2017

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Rolling contact fatigue in relation to rail grinding

Steenbergen, M.J.M.M. (author)

Spalling defects of a periodic nature are sometimes observed on heat-treated pearlitic steel rails. Defect properties suggest a relationship between maintenance grinding on a regular basis and the initiation of rolling contact fatigue (RCF). In this work, the effects of maintenance grinding are investigated experimentally for both standard...

journal article 2016

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An approach to determine a critical size for rolling contact fatigue initiating from rail surface defects

Li, Z. (author), Zhao, X. (author), Dollevoet, R.P.B.J. (author)

A methodology for the determination of a critical size of surface defects, above which RCF can initiate, has been developed and demonstrated with its application to the passive type of squats under typical Dutch railway loading conditions. Such a methodology is based on stress evaluation of transient rolling contact at the defects, for which...

journal article 2016

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Scaling strategy of a new experimental rig for wheel-rail contact

Naeimi, M. (author), Li, Z. (author), Dollevoet, R.P.B.J. (author)

A new small–scale test rig developed for rolling contact fatigue (RCF) investigations in wheel–rail material. This paper presents the scaling strategy of the rig based on dimensional analysis and mechanical modelling. The new experimental rig is indeed a spinning frame structure with multiple wheel components over a fixed rail-track ring,...

conference paper 2014

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Residual fatigue life evaluation of rail at squats seeds using 3D explicit finite element analysis

Deng, X. (author), Naeimi, M. (author), Li, Z. (author), Qian, Z. (author)

A modeling procedure to predict the residual fatigue life of rail at squats seeds is developed in this article. Two models are involved: a 3D explicit Finite Element (FE) model to compute the stress and strain at squats in rail, and the J-S fatigue damage model to determine the residual fatigue life on the basis of the computed stress and strain...

conference paper 2014

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Dynamic Wheel/Rail Rolling Contact at Singular Defects with Application to Squats

Zhao, X. (author)

Squats, as a kind of short wavelength rail surface defects, have become one of the main rolling contact fatigue problems in railways worldwide. The purpose of this work is to better understand the squatting phenomenon, contribute to reduction and even prevention of squat occurrence, and thereby reduce the related costs. To such an end, a new...

doctoral thesis 2012