Rolling Contact Fatigue on premium rail grades: Damage function development from field data

The concept of the rail damage function provides vital understanding of the operational performance of rail grades in terms of surface degradation. The present study extends this concept from conventional to premium pearlitic rail. This is done on the basis of both simulations of dynamic train-track interaction and field observations. Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) damage index values for the conventional R260Mn and the premium R370CrHT grade rail are established, describing the behaviour of the associated damage functions. Defining the individual rail grade damage response to operational loading levels, the potential of the RCF-damage function to support the process of rail grade selection and track maintenance is further discussed.