Running-in Warmup Effects of Industrial Truck Wheels with Polyurethane Tread

Abstract

Wheels and castors are an essential design element for all logistical and material handling processes. The frequently used solid material treads made of polyurethane have a complex operating behaviour, which is characterised by numerous parameters with regard to internal and external friction. Whereas up to now, the design of the material specification was primarily based on speed, payload and the associated diameter and width ratio. Recent test results show that the achievable performance of such a polyurethane tread is also dependent on the characteristics of the initial runningin process. The present results prove that there is a correlation between the load and temperature during the runningin phase and the load limit that can be achieved in the further course. In addition, agerelated effects could be proven, so that the test results presented here and further investigations based on them can on the one hand lead to a improved user knowledge, but on the other hand also represent the starting point for developments in terms of wheel design and tread material properties.