An analytical model is developed for the assessment of the steady-state temperature distribution in a wheel undergoing heating in friction contact with the rail and the brake shoes as well as nonuniform cooling in its periphery. The model takes into account the heat conduction due to rolling contact at the wheel/rail and the sliding contact at the wheel/brake shoe interfaces as well as heat loss by convection from the sides and periphery of the wheel and the brake shoes. The heat partitioning coefficients in the rail and the brake shoe contacts with the wheel are incorporated in the model. These heat-partitioning coefficients can be used to evaluate the temperature field in the wheel and the brake shoes. It is shown that the wheel contact temperature is confined to a very thin depth within the surface layer (approximately 6% in the radial direction), but the rest of the wheel is at the bulk temperature.
Final manuscript approved June 29, 2006
Review led by Al Segall
Notes
Final manuscript approved June 29, 2006
Review led by Al Segall