An experimental approach to determining the residual lifetimes of wheelset axles on a full-scale wheel-rail roller test rig

摘要: Abstract The paper describes an experimental method for determining the residual lifetime of wheelset axles which was developed and proved. procedure includes all necessary steps: crack initiation from artificially generated surface defect, monitoring growth, specification end-of-test criterion. propagation tests described in this were carried out on a complete that installed full-scale wheel-rail roller test rig using measured load spectrum. During both planning implementation phases, considerable attention paid to complex processes involved axles. In addition axle material design issues, important factors have be taken into account include sequence effects, reliability cycle omission strategies reduce overall duration testing, static stresses introduced by press-fitting procedures caused manufacturing processes, closure effects. results obtained indicate produces reliable are practical relevance. Examples also presented indicated how far experimentally determined lifetimes could still differ calculated current fracture mechanics modelling techniques.