The Impact of Two-Layer Lubrication Parameters on the Service Life of Railway Rails

Abstract

The prerequisites, basic hypotheses and sequence of creation of a mathematical model for estimation of service life of railway rails in conditions of two-layer lubrication are given in the article. The created mathematical model is presented in the final form. The model takes into account the geometry of the wheel-rail contact, the initial and constant surface roughness, actual loads on the rail, speed of the rolling stock, strength characteristics of steels and the antifriction additive, as well as the basic parameters of two-layer lubrication. The main parameters of lubrication include the concentration of solid antifriction additives in oil which is sufficient to fill irregularities of the contact surface; the boundary molecular oil film thickness. The results of calculations using the developed mathematical model are presented. The performed calculations reveal the positive effect of the parameters of a two-layer lubricant on the resource of rails. The anti-wear effect of the lubricant increases as the concentration of graphite in the oil increases and the weight of the carriage decreases. Based on the performed calculations, conclusions and recommendations were obtained regarding further experimental verification of the mathematical model, as well as the influence of the parameters of two-layer spray lubrication on wear and service life of transport rails.