NKK has developed high strength bainitic steel rails with superior flaking resistance for heavy haul railways. In this paper, rolling contact fatigue and wear behavior in bainitic and pearlitic rail steels with various tensile strengths were studied. Emphasis was placed on examining the formation behavior of the WEL(White Etching Layer) in bainitic and pearlitic steels, and its effect on flaking resistance. Advantages of the newly developed high-strength bainitic steel with superior flaking resistance, good wear resistance and excellent weldability have been also discussed.

wear, rolling contact fatigue, pearlitic rail steel, bainitic rail steel, angle of attack, contact pressure, lubrication, slip ratio