EVALUATION OF THE FLAT-RESISTANCE PROPERTY OF WHEEL MATERIALS

A tow-roller testing machine, in which a skidding device was incorporated, was designed and manufactured for a wheel-flat reproducing test. The wheel-skidding machine produces a wheel-flat which has nearly the same morphology as that of wheels in service. An evaluation of flat-resistance property of four grades of carbon steels was done using the same procedure. The magnitude of flat damage in terms of the average length of thermal cracks, found in the damaged area, was observed to become larger with an increase of carbon content.