Reasons Analysis on Rail Tread Defects in One High-speed Railway

Several pits were found on the rail tread in one high-speed railway. The damage reasons for the rail were analyzed by means of macro observation, scanning electron microscope and energy spectrum analysis, metallographic examination and hardness test. The results indicate that the pits on the rail tread were caused by foreign metal pressing in the rail. The foreign metal was inlaid in the tread of the wheel, a series of pits were formed with the rotation of the wheel. Because the hardness of the foreign metal was much higher than that of the rail base metal, serious plastic deformation and micro cracks produced around the pits when the foreign metal pressed in the rail.