Transformation of structural-phase states in rail head at extremely long-term operation

Quantitative transformations of the structure at a depth of 0, 2, 5, 10 mm along the central and symmetry axis of the fillet of long differentially quenched rails head after extremely long-term operation (passed tonnage of 1770 mln. gross tons) were identified at macro-, micro- and nanoscale levels by methods of optical, scanning and transmission electron diffraction microscopy. At a macroscale level, the numerous shallow parallel cracks of contact fatigue are detected on the surface of working fillet, and on the surface of inoperative fillet there are only small spallings. The lateral wear of the rail was 2.5 mm and the vertical wear was 2 mm. Microstructure of the rail head metal corresponds to the requirements of standards and specifications of the Russian Railways. At microscale level, the transformation of cementite plates was established by cutting it with moving dislocations and dissolving with the escape of carbon to the dislocation lines, low- and high-angle boundaries. A decrease in microstructure dispersion is noted with a distance from the tread surface. At the nanoscale level, subgrain structure formed in the surface layers (subgrain size 110 – 200 μm) contains nanosized cementite particles (25 – 60 nm) localized at the joints and along the subgrain boundaries. It is supposed that this type of structure is formed as a result of dynamic recrystallization under megaplastic deformation in the process of extremely long-term operation of rails. The content of subgrain structure in the fillet layer is five-fold higher than that in surface layer of the tread surface. It was established that during operation, the transformation of lamellar perlite along the central axis of the head proceeds more slowly than along the symmetry axis of the fillet.

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