Plastic deformations of wheel-rail surfaces

Experimental investigations into the interactions between surface pressure, tangential tractions and plastic deformations during rolling gave the following results.

• 1.(1) The most intensive plastic deformations are caused by lateral frictional forces, followed by longitudinal frictional forces. The material flow is smallest with pure rolling.
• 2.(2) In agreement with Johnson's theory for a steel with a carbon content of 0.6% (similar to those used for wheels and rails) the shakedown limit was found at a maximum hertzian surface pressure of about 1600 N mm⁻².