scope:

This Technical Report gives guidance for: - the use of Finite Element Method (FEM) to supplement the axle calculation defined in relevant standards for wheelset calculation and to deteremine in particular conditions for fitting transitions and groves; - determination of fatigue limits consistent with the FEM procedure; - validation of the fatigue limit of the blasted axles and unpainted axles. It contains a proposal of a method for the analysis of in service load measurements to be applied in the fatigue assessment of axles.