Influence of Microalloying on the Microstructures and Properties of Spalling-Resistant Wheel Steel.

Microalloyed steels have emerged to replace conventional plain-carbon steels to achieve longer wheel life on Chinese railroads. In this work, with the aim of preventing spalling, a mechanism that consists of ratcheting and shakedown theory correlated with steel properties is systematically investigated. Mechanical and ratcheting tests were carried out for microalloyed wheel steel to which vanadium was added in the range of 0-0.