Effect of the Influence Factors on Rail Head Checks Initiation and Wear Growth Under Wheel-Rail Stick-Slip Contact

Based on the prediction method of the coexistence of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) crack initiation and wear growth, three kinds of influence factors on head check (HC) initiation and wear growth in rail of heavy-haul railway, including radius of curve, hardness of rail and friction of coefficient between rail and wheel (COF), were analyzed by orthogonal experiment method. The influence degree of different factors on HC initiation and wear growth were discussed. It can be seen from the result that if the COF kept in 0.2–0.4, three influence factors influenced on HC initiation life and wear growth from serious to minor were the radius of curve, hardness of rails and COF. When COF kept in 0.2–0.4, the rail with high hardness, 395 HBW for instance, was recommended for the curve radius less than 1000 m and all the three kinds of rails were recommended for the curve radius beyond 1000 m.