Control of deformation and residual stress on key vehicle components by Laser cladding repair

As a critical component of railway vehicles, the axle box operates under long-term conditions of vibration, impact, corrosion, and high pressure, leading to wear, indentations, and corrosion on its mounting and contact surfaces during service. When such damage exceeds permissible standards, repair or replacement is required. To extend the service life of the axle box, laser cladding technology was employed for restoration, resulting in a repaired coating that is uniform, dense, and exhibits favorable forming quality. Following the repair, residual stress transitioned from compressive to tensile; ultrasonic stress relief treatment was then applied to eliminate the tensile stress and restore a compressive stress state. The cladding layer is uniform and dense with good formability, free from defects such as cracks and surface porosity. The dimensional deviation before and after laser cladding repair ranged from -0.1702 mm to 0.2745 mm, meeting the operational requirements.