The Effect of Top-of-Rail Products Incorporating Environmentally Acceptable Solid Particles on Friction, Retentivity, Wear and Airborne Particle Emissions of Wheel–Rail Contact

Excessive friction at the wheel–rail contact can limit the lifespan of the wheels and rails. Meanwhile, insufficient friction can lead to increased braking distance, risking safety. Top-of-Rail (TOR) products are recognised for their potential to achieve intermediate friction levels at the wheel–rai...

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Main Authors: Rahma Boukhris, Ellen Bergseth, Ulf Olofsson, Johan Leckner, Roland Ardai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Machines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/13/3/200
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author Rahma Boukhris
Ellen Bergseth
Ulf Olofsson
Johan Leckner
Roland Ardai
author_facet Rahma Boukhris
Ellen Bergseth
Ulf Olofsson
Johan Leckner
Roland Ardai
author_sort Rahma Boukhris
collection DOAJ
description Excessive friction at the wheel–rail contact can limit the lifespan of the wheels and rails. Meanwhile, insufficient friction can lead to increased braking distance, risking safety. Top-of-Rail (TOR) products are recognised for their potential to achieve intermediate friction levels at the wheel–rail contact and mitigate wear damages. However, the impact of these products on the airborne wear particles emitted from wheel–rail contact is not thoroughly evaluated. High particle concentration levels, particularly on underground train platforms, raise respiratory and cardiovascular health concerns. This research employs a pin-on-disc to study the effect of laboratory (environmentally acceptable) and commercial TOR products on friction, retentivity, wear, and airborne particle emissions at the wheel–rail interface. The results indicated that TOR products with higher retentivity offered a wider interval of desired intermediate friction levels. The TOR products significantly reduced particle emissions compared to the dry condition. TOR products can, therefore, be promising in controlling friction and mitigating wear and particle emissions at the wheel–rail interface. However, to achieve the benefits of these products, it is essential to tailor their chemical composition carefully.
format Article
id doaj-art-03a01c562fba447cbe2ee7f3c13b82fd
institution DOAJ
issn 2075-1702
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publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Machines
spelling doaj-art-03a01c562fba447cbe2ee7f3c13b82fd2025-08-20T02:42:26ZengMDPI AGMachines2075-17022025-02-0113320010.3390/machines13030200The Effect of Top-of-Rail Products Incorporating Environmentally Acceptable Solid Particles on Friction, Retentivity, Wear and Airborne Particle Emissions of Wheel–Rail ContactRahma Boukhris0Ellen Bergseth1Ulf Olofsson2Johan Leckner3Roland Ardai4Department of Engineering Design, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Engineering Design, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Engineering Design, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, SwedenAxel Christiernsson AB, 449 41 Gothenburg, SwedenAxel Christiernsson AB, 449 41 Gothenburg, SwedenExcessive friction at the wheel–rail contact can limit the lifespan of the wheels and rails. Meanwhile, insufficient friction can lead to increased braking distance, risking safety. Top-of-Rail (TOR) products are recognised for their potential to achieve intermediate friction levels at the wheel–rail contact and mitigate wear damages. However, the impact of these products on the airborne wear particles emitted from wheel–rail contact is not thoroughly evaluated. High particle concentration levels, particularly on underground train platforms, raise respiratory and cardiovascular health concerns. This research employs a pin-on-disc to study the effect of laboratory (environmentally acceptable) and commercial TOR products on friction, retentivity, wear, and airborne particle emissions at the wheel–rail interface. The results indicated that TOR products with higher retentivity offered a wider interval of desired intermediate friction levels. The TOR products significantly reduced particle emissions compared to the dry condition. TOR products can, therefore, be promising in controlling friction and mitigating wear and particle emissions at the wheel–rail interface. However, to achieve the benefits of these products, it is essential to tailor their chemical composition carefully.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/13/3/200wheel–rail contactenvironmentally acceptableTop-of-Rail (TOR) productsfriction modifiers (FMs)friction managementwear
spellingShingle Rahma Boukhris
Ellen Bergseth
Ulf Olofsson
Johan Leckner
Roland Ardai
The Effect of Top-of-Rail Products Incorporating Environmentally Acceptable Solid Particles on Friction, Retentivity, Wear and Airborne Particle Emissions of Wheel–Rail Contact
Machines
wheel–rail contact
environmentally acceptable
Top-of-Rail (TOR) products
friction modifiers (FMs)
friction management
wear
title The Effect of Top-of-Rail Products Incorporating Environmentally Acceptable Solid Particles on Friction, Retentivity, Wear and Airborne Particle Emissions of Wheel–Rail Contact
title_full The Effect of Top-of-Rail Products Incorporating Environmentally Acceptable Solid Particles on Friction, Retentivity, Wear and Airborne Particle Emissions of Wheel–Rail Contact
title_fullStr The Effect of Top-of-Rail Products Incorporating Environmentally Acceptable Solid Particles on Friction, Retentivity, Wear and Airborne Particle Emissions of Wheel–Rail Contact
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Top-of-Rail Products Incorporating Environmentally Acceptable Solid Particles on Friction, Retentivity, Wear and Airborne Particle Emissions of Wheel–Rail Contact
title_short The Effect of Top-of-Rail Products Incorporating Environmentally Acceptable Solid Particles on Friction, Retentivity, Wear and Airborne Particle Emissions of Wheel–Rail Contact
title_sort effect of top of rail products incorporating environmentally acceptable solid particles on friction retentivity wear and airborne particle emissions of wheel rail contact
topic wheel–rail contact
environmentally acceptable
Top-of-Rail (TOR) products
friction modifiers (FMs)
friction management
wear
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/13/3/200
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