Methodology for estimation of residual stresses in hardened railway axle

摘要

Residual stresses play an important role in propagation of potential fatigue cracks and they influence residual fatigue lifetime of railway axles. Essential step for assessment of residual fatigue lifetimes of railway axles is determination of magnitudes and distribution of residual stress in axle. This paper deals with determination of tangential residual stress in hardened railway axle made of EA4T steel. The tangential stress is obtained from difference between uncut and cut slit ring specimens, which are manufactured from considered railway axle. Then, based on theory of curved beams, stress distribution in the cylindrical specimen is calculated. Finally, results from slit ring method are compared with results of neutron and x-ray diffraction.