The influence of high temperature due to high adhesion condition on rail damage

The results indicated that after six wheel passes, the temperature due to the high adhesion condition was sufficiently high (723 °C) to form the white etching layer (WEL) known to be associated to the rolling contact fatigue (RCF) on the rail surface. Moreover the rail material would be softened by high temperature, which resulted in the acceleration of wear process. Finally the results of thermal stress and strain from FE model were used as input to Kapoor׳s ratcheting model to determine the number of wheel rolling cycles leading to rail damage.