SOME ASPECTS OF SERVICE DEVELOPMENTS IN RAIL-HEAD METAL

Service developments in rail-head metal characterized by the presence of white etching regions have been studied. After the development of microstructural white-etching regions resulting from traction and adhesion conditions, spalling begins as a result of trains passing repeatedly over these hard and increasingly brittle areas. White-etching regions on a car-dumper hoop rail resulted from impact during loading and unloading of the dumper, because these areas were in contact with mating guide wheels in the normal load and unload positions of the car dumper. White-etching also results from the effects of repeated loads on the vertical face of non-end-hardened bolted rail. A rolling-contact fatigue test concludes that rail steels have longer life at lower maximum static contact stress levels than at higher stress levels.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Authors:
  • Henry, R J
• Publication Date: 1971-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 586-599
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 72 N
  • Issue Number: 633
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Defects; Detection and identification; Deterioration; Railhead; Railroad rails; Stresses; Wear
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rail flaw detection; Stress concentration
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail head profile; Rail stress; Spalling (Rails)
• Subject Areas: Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052262
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: 72-733-13 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM