Research of wear process mechanisms at rails in curvilinear sites of the rail road

The factors influencing on wearing in system ―wheel-rail‖ are considered. Results of metallographic, electron microscopy and X-ray-phase researches of rail samples with various lateral wear are resulted. The conclusion on dual character of surface layer destruction at lateral face of rails in the curves, includ-ing scaling of a material as a result of surface cracks development and also the destruction caused by de-velopment of tiny cracks on inter-layer borders is drawn. In surface layer the pulling stresses promoting development of cracks are found out. On the basis of experimental data analysis the conclusion about prevalence of contact-fatigue mechanism of wear process at rails in curves at Far East Rail Road is drawn.