Germany – Research and development services and related consultancy services – Forschungsprojekt - DZSF - Vorstudie Radbrüche

In recent times, an increased number of wheel breaks on freight wagons have been documented. A serious accident in the Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland has highlighted the relevance of this issue. Currently, several investigative authorities and research institutions, including a working group of the JNS of the ERA, are addressing this topic. In the railway sector, there are currently differing assessments regarding the causes of this phenomenon. The current state of research on wheel breaks and the related accidents is very fragmented, as it is distributed across different institutions and countries. The aim is therefore to analyse and identify the current state of knowledge and known research activities on this issue in a preliminary study, and to identify research gaps and information needs for further research. In particular, it should be determined which influences lead to cracks in wheels on freight wagons, whether these are caused by individual events or continuous effects, and how these influences can be minimised or avoided. For this purpose, causes and consequence assessments are compared. The findings of the study will provide a timely, neutral overview of the further research needs and deliver a scientifically justified prioritisation of which further investigations need to follow.