Fatigue in Railway Components - Understanding vs. Resolution

The consequences of surface finish and decarburization on the fatigue performance of cast and forged steel components in the railway industry is substantial, and means that fatigue cracking is an ongoing issue across the industry. Examples of loading spectra for coupler forces and track loads are presented, along with data from past investigations showing the severe penalty in terms of fatigue life caused by inadequate surface finish at critical locations of components under fatigue loads. Managers in railway industry need to understand the technical case for increased manufacturing requirements, as costs from operational losses may well have made the economic case for increased requirements more compelling. Various options for improving the surface finish at critical locations that are prone to fatigue are available, and should be explored to reduce the vulnerability of these components to failure via fatigue cracking.