A thermomechanical analysis of a railroad axle with a 6 1/2 × 12 tapered roller bearing assembly is conducted to determine the effects of a loose cone rubbing on the axle. For this analysis, it is assumed that the bearing elements have seized or jammed and the smallest resistance torque is due to the friction at the loose cone-axle interface. Temperature-dependent material properties are used as well as a coefficient of friction obtained by means of a pin-on-disk apparatus over a range of temperatures up to 1000° C. For initial radial clearances between cone and axle varying from 0.05 to 5.0 mm and an initial ambient temperature of 25°C, the thermomechanical degradation of the axle is examined as a function of time. The times required for plastic collapse of the axle to occur are determined for the various clearances. For the conditions considered, this collapse takes place in less than three minutes.

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