APPLICATION OF NORTH-AMERICAN RAILWAY WHEELS IN UNITED KINGDOM FREIGHT SERVICE

This paper describes the specifications, design, and testing of wrought railway wheels produced for a new type of coil steel freight car and an intermodal container car, both designed for service in the United Kingdom. Relevant specification differences between North American and British wheels are reviewed and discussed. Finite element stress and temperature analyses performed on wheel designs considered for the two car types are compared and contrasted. The paper also discusses some of the important factors in the railway service environment that affect wheel performance. Special attention is given to the thermal stresses which are imposed upon wheels from tread braking. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD E104477.