Research on wear performance of new type CL60 steel for metro wheel

Purpose The CL60 steel wheels of metro vehicles running on a specific line need frequent reprofiling due to rapid wear. Considering this problem, a new material for metro wheels was designed. The friction and wear properties of the new material were studied, to reduce the wear rate and extend the service life of metro wheels. Design/methodology/approach Wheel specimens made of the two steel materials were tested using a GPM-60 wear tester under laboratory conditions. A field test was conducted on a specific metro line to track the wear in wheels made of the new material and CL60 steel wheels. Findings Under the laboratory conditions, the wear loss in the new material was 24.44% lower than that in CL60 steel. The field test revealed that compared to CL60 steel wheels, the new CL60 steel wheels showed a 19.42% decrease in tread wear on average. The field measurements for the wheels made of the new material are consistent with the results of laboratory simulation, suggesting relatively high wear resistance of the new material. Practical implications The results of the study can provide guidance on how to properly select steel material for metro wheels to avoid rapid wear and frequent reprofiling and reduce operating costs. Originality/value A new material for metro wheels was designed and developed by optimizing the content of Cr, Si, Mn, V and other elements. This material proved to have better wear resistance in both laboratory and field testing.