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E.M. Mueller, X. Liu, "NTSB Investigations of Vertical Split Rim Failures of Freight Train Wheels", in J. Pombo, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance ", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 15, Paper 3.16, 2026, doi:10.4203/ccc.15.3.16

Keywords: vertical split rim, failure analysis, residual stress, wheel impact load detector, accident investigation, wheel, wheel-rail interaction.

Abstract

Freight rail accidents can release volatile petroleum products, with serious and even fatal consequences. One of the leading types of railroad wheel failures observed in North America is vertical split rim (VSR) cracking — a rapid, unstable propagation of a subsurface cracks that develop parallel to the front rim face. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates freight derailments carrying hazardous materials in the United States. One of the first investigations into wheel failures from a VSR resulted in several recommendations for prevention and mitigation. Unlike shattered rims and thermal cracks, VSRs require continuous monitoring of impact loads to assess their progression. The NTSB Materials Laboratory employed multiple characterization techniques, including electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction for residual-stress mapping, hardness mapping, and modelling to determine areas of stress concentration. The materials examination helped determine the probable cause of the derailment, and the results of this investigation led to changes in freight rail operations in the US and Canada.

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Front Page Browse CCC CCP CSETS CTR IJRT Other Authors Search Purchase Guide FAQ Contact us	Civil-Comp Conferences ISSN 2753-3239 CCC: 15 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE Edited by: J. Pombo Paper 3.16 NTSB Investigations of Vertical Split Rim Failures of Freight Train Wheels E.M. Mueller¹ and X. Liu² ¹Office of Research and Engineering, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC, United States of America ², Meta, Seattle, WA, United States of America doi:10.4203/ccc.15.3.16 Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper E.M. Mueller, X. Liu, "NTSB Investigations of Vertical Split Rim Failures of Freight Train Wheels", in J. Pombo, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance ", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 15, Paper 3.16, 2026, doi:10.4203/ccc.15.3.16 Keywords: vertical split rim, failure analysis, residual stress, wheel impact load detector, accident investigation, wheel, wheel-rail interaction. Abstract Freight rail accidents can release volatile petroleum products, with serious and even fatal consequences. One of the leading types of railroad wheel failures observed in North America is vertical split rim (VSR) cracking — a rapid, unstable propagation of a subsurface cracks that develop parallel to the front rim face. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates freight derailments carrying hazardous materials in the United States. One of the first investigations into wheel failures from a VSR resulted in several recommendations for prevention and mitigation. Unlike shattered rims and thermal cracks, VSRs require continuous monitoring of impact loads to assess their progression. The NTSB Materials Laboratory employed multiple characterization techniques, including electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction for residual-stress mapping, hardness mapping, and modelling to determine areas of stress concentration. The materials examination helped determine the probable cause of the derailment, and the results of this investigation led to changes in freight rail operations in the US and Canada. download the full-text of this paper (PDF, 14 pages, 1177 Kb) go to the previous paper go to the next paper return to the table of contents return to the volume description
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