Systems Approach to Failure Resistant Cast Steel Railroad Carwheel Design

Abstract

This paper describes the systems approach used in the design of a more failure-resistant cast steel railroad carwheel. Control of fracture toughness in high carbon steel is discussed and data are presented. Aspects of design geometry which produce lower thermal and mechanical stresses are discussed. The use of finite element computer models and full scale verification, including destructive drag dynamometer tests, are described. Consideration is given to computer solidification models and also to manufacturing constraints.