Ultrasonic Inspection of Reconditioned Railroad Bearing Components – Year 2

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 the overall status of the raceway. Previous research has shown clear differences between new and reconditioned bearing cups in terms of their ultrasonic signatures. That work will be expanded to include spatial maps of raceways to identify locations that are outside the statistical bounds expected for a given part. Those locations will be identified, and those parts will be tested in simulated service life testing at University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) for comparison with the predictions.

• Record URL:
  https://www.utrgv.edu/railwaysafety/_files/documents/research/mechanical/exhibit-d_utcrs_unl_ultrasonic_bearing_inspection_turner_2024.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • MxV Rail and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are partners for this project.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $98837
• 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

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

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearings; Fatigue (Mechanics); Rail components; Railroad safety; Rolling contact; Service life; Ultrasonic tests
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01924852
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University Transportation Center for Railway Safety
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348340
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 22 2024 8:09AM