Research of the possibility of repairing broken laminated springs of freight wagons by welding

Abstract

The task of this paper is to explore the possibility of repairing broken laminated springs (LS) of railway wagons by welding. The fractures of LS are very common, especially for freight wagons used in extreme operating conditions. One of the ways to solve this problem is reparation by welding of the fractured leafs. In that case the question about the behaviours and characteristics of repaired LS rises. The approach in this paper is based on comparative experimental testing of repaired LS and new LS. The aim is to determine the effect of welded leafs on the behaviours and characteristics of repaired LS. The obtained results have shown that welding does not significantly affect behaviour and characteristics of repaired LS. During the fatigue tests, the fracture in the heat affected zone of welded connection is not registered. The results have shown that life-cycle of repaired LS is slightly lower with regard to new LS. The final conclusion is that welding can be possible solution for reparation of broken LS.