Development of economic model for analyzing lubrication effectiveness in heavy haul lines

Friction management using wayside gauge face and top of rail systems is widely used in the North American heavy haul and other railways. It provides cost effective solutions to manage rail/wheel wear, energy consumption, costs and noise. The research on cost effective friction management solutions for the Australian heavy haul industry has been limited. This paper presents the testing of curve lubrication technologies and various greases in the field to develop economic model for analyzing lubrication effectiveness. The latest wayside equipment and different greases were used in field trials. Data were collected and analyzed for optimal lubrication decisions. The economic models proposed here for the Australian heavy hauls lines are illustrated using numerical examples and would be useful to industries for asset life enhancement, reliability and safety improvement along with reduction of risks and costs.