Research Projects

Railway transportation is a popular mode of transportation due to its low cost, energy efficiency, good environmental conditions, and comfortable ride experience. Tribology, the study and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion, is crucial for the performance of railways. The friction, lubrication, and wear concepts are important for efficient operation and maintenance, while wear performance is crucial for long-term durability and reliability. The study aims to investigate the sliding wear behavior of different microstructures of rail steel made of a single chemical composition. By fixing the chemical composition of steel, the sole effect of the microstructure on sliding wear will be examined. The influence of different microstructural constituents like ferrite, cementite, grain boundaries, and grain size on the wear resistance of the steel will also be investigated. The proposed work will study the sliding wear behavior of different microstructures (pearlite, bainite, martensite, and tempered martensite) of steel made of a single chemical composition in different operating conditions. In the next module, microchannels and micro-dimples will be made using wire electrochemical machining and electric-discharge micromachining, respectively. The wear performance of microchannels and micro-dimples will be investigated corresponding to different lubricating conditions. The results will help select a specific microstructure for steel used in sliding motion conditions, explain the scientific basis behind failure mechanisms of different microstructures during sliding wear tribological testing, and provide justification for various combinations of microstructures to minimize sliding wear in rail wheels.