Evaluating Damage Accumulated in Car Wheelset Axle Journals by the Ultrasonic Method Using Rayleigh and Head Waves

We propose a method and facility for measuring the speed of Rayleigh and head waves in order to study the loss of structure in the metal of the surface layer of car wheelset axle journals resulting from long-term operation. It has been discovered that the transit times of surface and head waves near the end and the fillet transition to the pre–wheel-seat part of the axle journal differ, a fact that indicates the presence of microdefects in the surface area of the fillet transition of axle journals accumulated after long-term operation. A criterion is proposed for assessing damage accumulated in the zone of maximum stress concentration in the surface layer of the fillet of car wheelset axle journals.