Forged railway wheelsets—consisting of forged wheels and forged axles—are engineered for high strength, fatigue resistance, and long service life, particularly under heavy loads and high speeds. The strength parameters depend on the material used (often high-quality alloy steels), the manufacturing process (e.g., forging + heat treatment), and the application (freight, passenger, high-speed, or locomotive).

2. Materials Used in Forged Wheelsets

• Forging refines grain structure and removes internal defects, greatly improving mechanical properties.

• Heat Treatment (quenching + tempering) enhances hardness and fatigue strength.

• 3. Design Standards and Safety Margins

  Forged wheelsets are designed to meet or exceed national and international standards:

  Standard	Description
  UIC 810 / UIC 811	European standard for wheels and axles
  TB/T 2817 / TB/T 2344	Chinese standards for railway axles and wheels
  AAR M-101 (USA)	Forged steel wheel specs
  EN 13261 / EN 13262	EU specs for axles and wheels

  
  

  Design Safety Factors:

  • Usually 1.5–2.0 times the maximum load for static strength

  • Fatigue safety factors are incorporated for ≥10⁷ cycles

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