Keywords: machined surface, coefficient of friction, wheel-climb derailment, wheel tread, wheel-flange.

This paper describes the results of tangential force experiments using small cylindrical specimens and an actual wheel. The measurements focus on the machined surface of the contact surface in order to investigate the relationship between the machined surface of the wheel tread and the wheel-climb derailment of railway vehicles. In past studies, it has been concluded that the machined surface may remain on the wheel tread as a result of the wheel turning; this machined surface causes the coefficient of friction of the wheel/rail to increase. In addition, the machined surface of the wheel tread of railway vehicles generates a wheel-flange climb derailment. In the study reported in this paper, attention is paid to the machined surface, and the tangential force characteristics of the wheel/rail were investigated. Generally, when a machined surface was provided on the contact surface, the tangential force of the machined contact surface is smaller than that of a smooth contact surface. During the process through which the machined surface wears out, the tangential characteristics were almost the same. This means that the influence of the machined surface of the wheel-flange has on the wheel-climb derailment was small. In addition, making the most of the tangential force characteristics, obtained in this study, a running safety improvement method of the railway vehicle was achieved by providing a streak of fine unevenness on the wheel tread on the opposite side from the flange. The validity of it is verified in a running test.

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