An Investigation into the Occurrence and Causes of Locomotive Tyre Failures

A detailed investigation has been made into the causes of locomotive tyre failures from two standpoints: first to determine the cause of any particular failure, and second to find general relationships between effect and cause in the matter of tyre defects. Examples are given of the examination of individual failures, and of experimental work directed to the improvement of wheel and tyre. In a statistical review, it is shown that fatigue is the major cause of tyre failure, and many of the factors which might influence the development of fatigue failure have been critically examined and their responsibility assessed. In conclusion it is noted how, by a change in tyre boring methods to increase the effective fatigue strength of the tyre, and by modifications in design to ensure more uniform stress distribution in the tyre, the occurrence of fatigue failures has steadily declined.