Carrydown of liquid friction modifier

A small-scale laboratory apparatus was built to study liquid friction modifier (LFM) behavior in a top-of-rail application. field experiment also carried out complement the findings. KELTRACK® (a water-based LFM) used as test fluid. Laser-induced fluorescence served measure LFM thickness left on track after passage of wheel. The lab experiments show that cannot withstand high wheel-rail contact pressure nip present cargo rail situations. As result, is squeezed laterally and attaches edges wheel band. This “edge liquid” then down Gravimetric measurements band confirm this observation, only minute amount through valleys between surface roughness features. In experiment, applied from trackside unit tangent section track. About 500 m downstream application point, has curved section. be detected anywhere short distance (∼200 m) past unit. However, detectable sections up approximately 2 km believed due transfer track, caused by movement train rounds curve. presence far consistent with prior reduced lateral force sites.