Distribution of tensile properties of high-speed rail wheels and its correlation with microstructure
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Gui-Yong Wang
Gui-Yong Wang, born in 1985, obtains a PhD and has the following research interests: high throughput characterization equipment and methods for mechanical properties of materials.
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Dong-Ling Li
Dong-Ling Li, born in 1973, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students with the following research interests: microstructure and property characterization of materials.
Lin-Mao Zhu, born in 1980, is a PhD candidate with the following research interests: high throughput characterization equipment and methods for mechanical properties of materials.
Xue-Jing Shen, born in 1974, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students with the following research interests: new technologies, methods, and equipment for the characterization of metallic materials and metallurgical process components.
Hai-Zhou Wang, born in 1940, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students, member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and has the following research interests: high throughput characterization of materials.
Abstract
The tensile strength of railway wheels is a crucial mechanical property in the quality assessment and safe service of wheels. Conventional tensile testing imposes strict requirements on specimen size and can only test one specimen in each experiment, hindering its application to the characterization of the tensile strength distribution of train wheels with complex structures. In this study, six-channel mechanical testing of miniature specimens was applied to characterize the tensile properties of high-speed rail wheel rims, enabling analysis of the correlations between micro-zone tensile properties and microstructures of high-speed rail wheels. The results showed that micro-zone tensile strength gradually decreased as the depth of the micro-zone increased from the tread surface to the radial interior. Moreover, both micro-zone tensile strength and plastic extension strength also gradually decreased as the pearlite lamellar spacing and ferrite area fraction increased. Micro-zone tensile strength and plastic extension strength showed good correlations with pearlite lamellar spacing and ferrite area fraction, with polynomial best-fit curves presenting correlation coefficients >0.95. The results of this study could serve as a technical reference for studying the tensile properties of high-speed rail wheel steel.
Funding source: Advanced Materials-National Science and Technology Major Project
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2025ZD0611704
About the authors
Gui-Yong Wang, born in 1985, obtains a PhD and has the following research interests: high throughput characterization equipment and methods for mechanical properties of materials.
Dong-Ling Li, born in 1973, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students with the following research interests: microstructure and property characterization of materials.
Lin-Mao Zhu, born in 1980, is a PhD candidate with the following research interests: high throughput characterization equipment and methods for mechanical properties of materials.
Xue-Jing Shen, born in 1974, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students with the following research interests: new technologies, methods, and equipment for the characterization of metallic materials and metallurgical process components.
Hai-Zhou Wang, born in 1940, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students, member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and has the following research interests: high throughput characterization of materials.
Acknowledgments
We thank Liwen Bianji (Edanz) (www.liwenbianji.cn) for editing the language of a draft of this manuscript.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: Gui-yong Wang, born in 1985, obtains a PhD and has the following research interests: high throughput characterization equipment and methods for mechanical properties of materials. Dong-ling Li, born in 1973, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students with the following research interests: microstructure and property characterization of materials. Lin-mao Zhu, born in 1980, is a PhD candidate with the following research interests: high throughput characterization equipment and methods for mechanical properties of materials. Xue-jing Shen, born in 1974, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students with the following research interests: new technologies, methods, and equipments for the characterization of metallic materials and metallurgical process components. Hai-zhou Wang, born in 1940, is a professor and supervisor of doctoral students, member of Chinese Academy of Engineering and has the following research interests: high throughput characterization of materials. The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: Advanced Materials-National Science and Technology Major Project (2025ZD0611704).
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Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.
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