Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (Research Outputs)

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Phase proportions, carbon equivalent, mechanical properties and their effect on material cost of railway axle steels
(Springer, 2018-04) Klenam, D.E.P.; Chown, L.H.; Papo, M.J.; Cornish, L.A.
Commuter trains with solid axle configuration are produced from medium carbon steel due to cost restrictions. High-speed trains have hollow axle configuration for reduced weight and are made from high strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels. The HSLA steels have higher amounts of C, Cr, Ni, Mo, V and Nb, and are more expensive than medium carbon steels. The effects of phase proportions, carbon equivalent (CE), yield strength and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) on material costs of existing railway axle steels were studied using Thermo-Calc. Medium carbon rail axle steels had higher Fe3C phase proportions than the HSLA steel rail axle grades. Higher affinity of Cr, Mo and V for C than Fe resulted in decreased cementite proportions. The HSLA steels had yield strengths above 370 MPa, and UTS above 750 MPa, with increased material cost above $3300 per ton. A scattered distribution was observed for the pearlite weight fraction and material costs, with most between $3200 and $3400. The yield and tensile strengths increased with increasing carbon equivalent and pearlite weight fraction. The data aided the selection and design of alloys with better mechanical and corrosion properties at reduced material cost.