Scale Levels of the Structure–Phase States and Fatigue Life of a Rail Steel after Electron-Beam Treatment

Abstract

Investigations of the structure, phase composition, and defect substructure of the rail steel subjected to the electron-beam irradiation in different regimes and fatigue loading up to fracture are carried out by methods of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The regime of rail steel surface treatment by high-intensive electron beams allowing increasing the fatigue life repeatedly (by ≅ 2.5 times) is revealed. Physical mechanisms of the fatigue life increase of the steel treated by an electron beam are discussed.

Keywords