Experimental study on fretting damage in the interference fit area of high-speed train wheels and axles based on specimen

Taking the high-speed train axles as the object, this paper designs and produces fretting fatigue specimens that simulate the interference fit of the high-speed train axles and conducts the fretting damage test on the interference fit area of the axles under rotating bending loads. The interrupted fretting fatigue tests were conducted based on the fretting fatigue limit to study the distribution, the damage of the wear debris and the characteristics of crack initiation of the specimen shaft in the contact area of the interference fit. Research shows that the fatigue limit of high-speed train axle materials is significantly reduced due to fretting damage in the interference fit area. The closer to the outer edge of the contact slip zone, the more concentrated the wear debris, the more severe the fretting fatigue damage. When the amount of wear debris reaches its maximum, the load cycle occurs 1 million cycles. Fretting wear and fretting fatigue coexist in the interference fit specimen under rotating bending loads, accompanied by the formation of third-body oxides between the contact surfaces.