Effect of Long-Term Inactivity on Railcar Bearing Lubricant Performance

The performance of railroad bearings that sit idle in railyards, large industrial plants, or shipping ports has only recently been explored. Some of the bearings, with documented periods of inactivity exceeding 18 months, have been associated with major derailments. This provides a basis for concerns that the inactive periods contributed to early failure, possibly through degradation of the grease properties brought on by moisture intake or grease separation leading to uneven protection of the metal components. The proposed work builds on prior efforts conducted in collaboration with CSX Transportation, MxV Rail, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and seeks to improve the understanding of the effects of long-term inactivity on lubricant properties. The proposed work will consist of (a) preparation of two test bearings which will be placed outdoors in a position to receive direct sunlight, (b) placement of grease samples in the same location in a simulated bearing housing to mimic the thermal cycle of a sun-exposed bearing, (c) regular sampling from the simulated bearing housing to monitor long-term changes in lubricant performance and condition, (d) at 23 weeks and 48 weeks, bearings will be retrieved and installed on a laboratory test rig and run for 15,000 simulated miles with continuous performance monitoring of temperature rise, vibration spectra, and power consumption, (e) post-test inspection including disassembly, teardown, and visual inspection of all bearing components, and (f) analysis of the grease composition at all stages with specific focus on loss of oxidation inhibitors and changes in tribological performance.

• Record URL:
  https://www.utrgv.edu/railwaysafety/_files/documents/research/mechanical/exhibit-d_utcrs_utrgv_inactive_railroad_bearing_lubricant_performance_jones_2024.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • CSX Transportation, MxV Rail, and NTSB are partners for this project.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $155187
• 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 Texas Rio Grande Valley

  1201 W. University Dr
  Edinburg, TX  United States  78539
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

  1201 W. University Dr
  Edinburg, TX  United States  78539
• Project Managers:

  Stearns, Amy

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

  1201 W. University Dr
  Edinburg, TX  United States  78539
• Principal Investigators:

  Jones, Robert

  Tarawneh, Constantine

  Taha Tijerina, Jose

• Start Date: 20240601
• Expected Completion Date: 20250831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearings; Lubricants; Rail components; Rail lubrication; Railroad safety
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01924848
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University Transportation Center for Railway Safety
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348340
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 22 2024 7:59AM