Influence of Wetting Interface on Friction and Wear Properties of Q345B High-speed Railway Brake Discs

XIE Yong; SHI Li; GAO Hexu; LIU Yu; ZHANG Shengfang; SHA Zhihua

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2025.23.008

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Surface Technology ›› 2025, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (23) : 114-126. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2025.23.008

Friction, Wear and Lubrication

Influence of Wetting Interface on Friction and Wear Properties of Q345B High-speed Railway Brake Discs

XIE Yong¹, SHI Li¹, GAO Hexu¹, LIU Yu¹, ZHANG Shengfang^1,2, SHA Zhihua^1,*

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Abstract

Under the complex and adverse conditions of winter rain and snow, braking discs of high-speed trains may result in extended braking distances and even lead to brake failure. This issue seriously compromises the safety and reliability of train operations. Therefore, it is necessary to research the influence of dry and water-lubricated conditions on the friction and wear performance of the Q345B steel used in braking discs of high-speed trains.
The braking friction models under dry friction and water lubrication were established by COMSOL finite element software. The temperature distribution patterns at the dry friction interface and the wet interface were compared at different time points to investigate the influence of the water lubrication medium on the temperature field. Friction and wear experiments under different surface conditions (dry friction and water lubrication) were conducted based on the MMW-1A friction and wear testing machine. The load magnitudes for the pin-on-disc wear tests were calculated according to the actual braking loads (32, 23, and 14 kN). A comparative analysis was conducted on the variation patterns of the friction coefficient under different loads and surface conditions. A three-dimensional profilometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to examine the micro-morphology of both dry friction surfaces and wet surfaces, thereby analyzing the patterns of surface wear depth evolution and differences in wear types. Simultaneously, an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis was performed on the worn surfaces under different surface conditions to measure the elemental distribution and investigate the differences in tribochemical products. Based on the simulation and experimental findings, a schematic diagram of the wear mechanisms under both dry friction and wet interface conditions was comprehensively established, thereby clearly elucidating the relationship between friction evolution behavior and the wear response mechanism under wet interface conditions.
The simulation results reveal that the temperature at the wet interface is lower than that at the dry friction interface, with a more uniform temperature distribution observed under lubricated conditions. Specifically, the temperature at the lubricated interface is approximately 33.3% lower. Compared with the dry friction condition, the maximum reduction in the friction coefficient under the lubricated interface reaches approximately 30%. As the load increases, wear under dry friction conditions becomes increasingly severe. Under heavy load conditions, the wear depth of the lubricated surface is only 29% of that under dry friction, and its surface roughness is merely 57% of that under dry friction. The main types of dry friction wear are fatigue wear, adhesive wear and oxidation wear. While under water lubrication, the surface of the friction disc is mainly abrasive wear, with abrasive particles detaching form furrows and pits on the surface. This is primarily attributed to the cooling and lubricating effects of water, which reduce the tendency for thermal stress and minimize adhesive wear and oxidative wear. Moreover, the combined action of water lubrication and frictional heating promotes the formation of tribochemical products, such as mixtures of iron oxide, copper oxide, and water molecules. These products create a protective film on the surface, significantly reducing the adhesion between the friction pair and water.

Key words

water lubrication / Q345B / braking disc / finite element analysis / friction and wear / wet interface

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XIE Yong, SHI Li, GAO Hexu, LIU Yu, ZHANG Shengfang, SHA Zhihua. Influence of Wetting Interface on Friction and Wear Properties of Q345B High-speed Railway Brake Discs[J]. Surface Technology. 2025, 54(23): 114-126 https://doi.org/10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2025.23.008

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (52375169); Liaoning Province Applied Basic Research Program (2022JH2/101300228); University Basic Scientific Research Project of the Department of Education of Liaoning Province (LJ212410150039)