ROLLING-LOAD AND SLOW-BEND TEST RESULTS OF BUTT-WELDED RAIL JOINTS

In the period from October 1, 1965, to October 1,1966, sixteen rolling load tests and six slow bend tests were conducted on butt-welded rail joints at the Association of American Railroads Research Center. The joints were made by the thermite (Thermex Metallurgical, Exomet and Orgotherm), submerged-arc and oxyacetylene pressure-butt-welding process. The rolling-load tests were made on a 12-in-stroke rolling-load machine. Welded specimens were tested for various reasons including: (1) to determine the quality of the submerged-arc-welded rail joints, (2) to evaluate 115-lb thermite welded rail joints made by the Exomet process, (3) to determine the seriousness of making butt welds from rails with hairline cracks of (pipe) in the web. (4) to investigate the possible detrimental effects of a collar that was not removed from an Orgotherm thermite welded rail joint. The slow bend tests were made with the rail resting on supports 4 ft. apart and loaded at 2 points, one on each side of and 6 in. from the weld. These tests were made with the rail base down, thereby subjecting the head to a compressive stress and the base to a tension stress. For satisfactory service performance a minimum of 1.5 in. of deflection and 140,000 psi modulus of rupture are being used as tentative criteria for oxyacetylene and electric-flash pressure butt welds. A summary of the slow bend test results is provided.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1967-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 383-396
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 68
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bending; Bending stress; Defects; Dynamic loads; Failure; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fatigue (Physiological condition); Rail joints; Railroad rails; Stresses; Technology; Welded rail
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail failure; Splitting (Rails)
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040426
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Bulletin 605
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 22 1976 12:00AM