Ultrasonic Inspection of Reconditioned Railroad Bearings

Freight rail bearings are often subjected to heavy loads such that the performance of each bearing plays a crucial role in the safe operation of the entire train. Even bearings that are properly maintained may still fail due to rolling contact fatigue (RCF) if local regions within the bearing race do not meet established effective case depth (ECD) standards. In addition, little is known about potential changes that may occur within the highest stress region after extensive service life. Ultrasonic grain scattering shows sensitivity to both microstructure and residual stresses such that nondestructive measurement methods based on diffuse ultrasonic backscatter have shown a high correlation with ECD. Thus, this project will exploit the relationship between ECD and ultrasonic scattering with respect to reconditioned bearings. Bearing components at several different usage states will be inspected with a goal to identify locations that may be more susceptible to early spalling. During later stages of this program, those parts will be tested using laboratory rolling contact fatigue tests for comparison with predictions.

• Record URL:
  https://www.utrgv.edu/railwaysafety/_files/documents/research/exhibit-d_utcrs_unl_ultrasonic_inspection_of_reconditioned_bearings_2023.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This project is a collaboration with Constantine Tarawneh at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $87183
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348340

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  1400 R Street
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68588
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  1400 R Street
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68588
• Project Managers:

  Stearns, Amy

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  1400 R Street
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68588
• Principal Investigators:

  Turner, Joseph

  Tarawneh, Constantine

• Start Date: 20230601
• Expected Completion Date: 20240831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearings; Nondestructive tests; Rail components; Railroad rails; Ultrasonic tests
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01898074
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University Transportation Center for Railway Safety
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348340
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Oct 31 2023 7:20PM