Influence of braking speed on the wear property and simulation analysis of high-speed railway braking materials at low temperature

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of braking speed at –20 °C on the wear property of high-speed railway braking materials and the temperature also stress analyses of brake disc friction surface. Design/methodology/approach Friction brake tester was used to simulate the wear test of high-speed railway braking materials at diverse braking speeds (2,100, 2,400, 2,700 and 3,000 rad/min) at –20 °C and the stress and temperature analyses of brake disc friction surface were carried out by COMSOL. Findings Compared with 20°C, there is initial stress of brake disc friction surface before brake starting; also, the maximum wear depth is larger at –20°C. Besides, at –20 °C, with the rising of braking speed, the graphite particles on the friction surface of brake pad significantly reduce. And scratches and cracks are formed on brake pad friction surface. Besides, the abrasive wear, adhesive wear and thermal cracks of brake disc friction surface are aggravated. Moreover, the maximal worn depth also increase. Meanwhile, the highest temperature and the maximum thermal stress of brake disc friction surface both raise. Furthermore, the temperature and thermal stress gradients at radial direction of brake disc friction surface aggrandize, which makes the thermal cracks on brake disc friction surface further exacerbated. Research limitations/implications In this paper, the wear property of the high-speed railway braking materials is studied by combining experiment and simulation. However, due to the low-speed traveling of high-speed railway was mainly studied in this paper, there may be no comprehensive simulation of the real running condition of high-speed railway. At the same time, the working condition of low-temperature environment cannot be completely simulated and controlled. Practical implications The research results of this paper provide a basic instruction for other researchers and also provide an important reference for relevant personnel to choose the braking speed of high-speed railway at –20 °C. Social implications The research of this paper provides a brick for the study of high-speed railway braking materials and also provides some references for the safe service of trains in low-temperature environment. Originality/value This paper studied the wear property and carried out the simulation analysis of braking materials at –20 °C at diverse braking speed. The research findings provide an important reference for the selection of braking speed of high-speed railway at –20 °C.