INVESTIGATION OF FAILURES OF WELDED RAILS

Six failed welds were sent to this laboratory for evaluation. One electric-flash butt weld failed after about two years in service because of a fatigue fracture starting at near midheight of the rail web at a small ball of the molted sparks which ordinarily fly away as the rails are being heated but which in this case became trapped in the weld. Another electric-flash butt weld had also been in service about two years when it failed because of a fatigue fracture starting in the rail web about 3/4 in above the rail base. These two failures can be attributed to a combination of three circumstances: High tensile stresses due to cold weather. Stress concentration at the small imperfections in the welds. Stress concentration due to the flash under the rail bases. Four additional failures are described. Eleven bend test results are reported.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Authors:
  • Cramer, R E
• Publication Date: 1963-2

Media Info

• Features: Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 451-459
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 64
  • Issue Number: 577
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bending; Bending stress; Contaminants; Cracking; Defects; Equipment tests; Failure; Inspection; Low temperature; Railroad rails; Stresses; Technology; Temperature; Tension; Void ratios; Welded rail; Welding
• Uncontrolled Terms: Contamination; Tensile stress
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Fissures (Rails); Rail failure; Rail inspection; Rail welding; Test equipment; Void; Voids (Rails); Web defects; Web defects (Rails)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Materials; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040522
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM