Computer modelling of process of accumulation of rolling contact fatigue damage in railway wheels

An algorithm for computer modelling of the process of accumulation of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage in railway vehicle wheels is introduced. The amplitude of maximum shear stress is adopted as a criterion for fatigue failure during rolling. RCF curves for wheel steels with a hardness 255-330 HB are obtained by processing the results of the RCF tests of the wheel steel specimens. Effect of the wheel steel hardness on accumulation of the RCF damage is investigated.