Lateral Load Effect on Railway Tapered Roller Bearing Performance

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Examining the Effects of Lateral Loading on Railroad Tapered Roller Bearings [Thesis]
• Creators:
  Tarawneh, Constantine ; Fuentes, Arturo ; Sanchez-Trinidad, Abel ; Montalvo, Joseph
• Corporate Creators:
  University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) [UTC]
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Lateral-to-vertical Ratio (L/V) Load Factor Mechanical Vibration Performance Railroads Roller Bearings Structural Health Monitoring Temperature Measurement
• Publication/ Report Number:
  UTCRS-UTRGV-M4CY24
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Project Report: June 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. University Transportation Center for Railway Safety
• Abstract:
  Lateral forces are a critical factor in railroad tapered roller bearing performance. To improve the reliability and safety of railway systems, vibration and thermal signatures can be powerful diagnostic and prognostic tools for monitoring railway bearing health. While temperature variations can signal spall deterioration, they often become evident only after extensive damage. Therefore, understanding the effects of lateral loading on railroad tapered-roller bearings, including vibration and temperature behavior, under varying train speeds and loads is crucial. Unfortunately, there is limited publicly available research in this area. Motivated by this area of opportunity, researchers at the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) developed a dynamic bearing test rig to investigate the effects of lateral loading on bearing performance. The proposed study focuses on Association of American Railroads (AAR) class F and K bearings, widely used in freight rail service. A hydraulic cylinder setup applied lateral loads up to 60 kN (13.5 kips), mimicking forces experienced during hunting, track irregularities, and curves. Healthy and defective bearings were used for the experimentsthis study offers a unique contribution by exploring how lateral loads affect bearing vibration (in addition to temperature), providing insights into factors influencing bearing performance in the rail industry. The aim is to improve the long-term reliability and safety of rail systems by understanding how to mitigate performance-compromising issues. Based on the findings of this study, the research team plans to optimize onboard vibration, temperature, and load measurement sensors for more accurate and reliable monitoring of bearing condition in rail revenue service.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  69A3552348340
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b3fb94bdb4c8cf38d7569b8bae6f967c289595387b25b0ce1409ccbe9f2bdb3fec0b9bf14879b9dd9d48a9f55eaab841013d3e020b4c5798267677964b5a37e0
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/91126/dot_91126_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.98 MB ]