Abstract: The connection between high-speed train axle and wheel hub is interference fit joint. Because of alternating load during the process of train running, fretting fatigues usually emerge in stress concentration region of axle. Guided waves can propagate at a long distance with low attenuation. It is very suitable to detect fretting fatigues owing to its sensibility to tiny damage. However, most methods need to tear the axle down, and few researchers have yielded useful information on guided waves propagation in high-speed train wheelset with interference fit. Firstly, the influence of assembly quality on guided waves propagation was studied by changing interference fit tolerance. Secondly, whether the energy difference method can be applied to damage detection in wheelset was discussed. The results indicate that interference fit tolerance has a significant influence on guided waves propagation. The guided waves amplitude reduces when the interference fit tolerance increases. The energy difference method is used to detect damage based on the axial symmetry of structure, so it still can be applied to damage detection of the axle assembled with wheels.

Key words: guided waves, interference fit, high-speed train wheelset and axle, damage detection