Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) of rail is a significant factor affecting the maintenance and service safety of railway track. While the driving parameters are known, clearer relationships are needed with fatigue life. The objective of this study was to explore the role of slip ratio in the development of RCF cracks and fatigue life of rail materials under a water lubricated condition. The results indicate that slip ratio has a vital and interesting influence in the wear and RCF life of rail materials. With an increase of slip ratio from 0 to 0.3%, fatigue life of rail materials has an obvious decrease. As slip ratio increases to 1%, the life increases. Then, RCF life has a drop as slip ratio changes from 1% to 5% and 10%. This may be a comprehensive effect resulting from various contact characteristics of stick area and slip area in the contact area and a competitive relationship between wear and RCF. The increase of slip ratio significantly increases the growth angle of cracks and transforms the damage mechanism of rail materials from slight surface fatigue to serious fatigue and pitting damage.\ud\ud
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