The company developed a method for treating steel railway wheels to create the desired compressive residual stress distribution on the rim. In general, the wheel is heated and hardened from the web to the rim. The wheel is first heated to form austenite throughout the web and rim portion. The wheel is then cooled to form bainite/martensite in the web portion. The wheel is cooled to form bainite/martensite inside the rim. The wheel is cooled to form bainite/martensite on the outside of the rim.
The company developed a method for treating steel railway wheels to create the desired compressive residual stress distribution on the rim. In general, the wheel is heated and hardened from the web to the rim. The wheel is first heated to form austenite throughout the web and rim portion. The wheel is then cooled to form bainite/martensite in the web portion. The wheel is cooled to form bainite/martensite inside the rim. The wheel is cooled to form bainite/martensite on the outside of the rim.