Open AccessMicrostructural analysis of rail tracks defects: case study
Author(s) -
Velaphi Msomi,
Basson Conrad Charl Peter,
Sipokazi Mabuwa
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/892/1/012002
Subject(s) - decarburization , materials science , chemical composition , manganese , optical microscope , layer (electronics) , surface layer , metallurgy , carbon fibers , composite material , chemistry , scanning electron microscope , composite number , organic chemistry
This case study reports on the microstructural analysis performed on the railway with defect. The idea behind was to quantify the origin of these defects that are regular in Western Cape railway network. The chemical composition of the defect revealed the reduction in carbon and manganese content on the surface of the defect. The specimens extracted from the beginning and the end of the defect had higher hardness values compared to those extracted in the middle of the defect. This trend is in correlation with the chemical composition variations. The optical microscopy revealed the decarburization layer at the surface of the defect. This kind of the layer results from the surface being exposed to a constant high temperature. It was then concluded that the South African environmental conditions do not form part on the formation of this failure.