INVESTIGATION OF INSULATED RAIL JOINTS

A comprehensive investigation was undertaken to determine the most appropriate and significant laboratory testing procedure for evaluating the merits of insulated rail joints. The investigation decided upon consisted of three phases. First, a new 3M plastic insulated joint for 136 RE rail was instrumented with strain gages to measure the flexural strains developed in the top and bottom of the two bars at midlength and 6 in each way from midlength. Since the strain would be zero at the bar ends, this gave five points along the length of the bar to establish the shape of the bending moment curve. These bars were then placed in main-line track on the Santa Fe. and measurements were taken of joint bar flexural strains developed under a number of passing trains, including passenger and freight. In the second phase of the investigation, another pair of the same type of 3M plastic joint was similarly instrumented with strain gages and placed in a rolling-load machine in the laboratory. Increments of loading were applied, and it was found that a wheel load of 15,000 lb. gave the same range of flexural strain in the bars at midlength as the maximum range measured in the track installation. The third phase of the investigation is a laboratory study with the objective of determining the effectiveness of different designs of insulated joint to support the rail ends and minimize joint tie tamping requirements. It would be expected that the more flexible the insulated joint, the more load would be thrown on to the supporting ties and more frequent tamping would be required. Accordingly, two lengths of 132 RE rail, each 10 ft long were supported in a special laboratory setup under a hydraulic loading machine on 11 ties plates spaced 20 apart. Two load cells were placed between the rail base and each tie plate to measure each tie reaction. Results were not avilable at the time of this publications.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

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

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 458-460
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 68
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bending; Bending stress; Dynamic loads; Electric insulating materials; Fastenings; Insulating materials; Rail joints; Railroad rails; Railroad ties; Railroad traffic; Stresses; Structural design; Technology; Tie bars
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail design
• Subject Areas: Design; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040430
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Bulletin 605
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 22 1976 12:00AM