THERMAL-MECHANICAL MODELING OF THE ROLLING-PLUS-SLIDING WITH FRICTIONAL HEATING OF A LOCOMOTIVE WHEEL

This paper examines finite element models for studying the long time f rictional heating of locomotive wheels. The aim is to obtain the tempe rature distribution and the thermal and residual stresses in the wheel , for given conditions of rolling-plus-sliding, with the least computi ng effort. Initially a rigorous 3-D model is employed. Then this model is reduced to a much simpler bur equivalent 2-D axisymmetric model wi th reasonable assumptions. It is shown, with the help of the 3-D model , that the actual temperature distribution is fluctuating and exhibits a sharp spike during each wheel rotation. For a part of the cycle the temperature is much higher than the steady state temperature calculat ed from the 2-D model.