AN INVESTIGATION OF WELDING USED RAIL WITHOUT CROPPING

Investigation is made of welding used rail without cropping. If such a procedure, using the electric flash method, is satisfactory, economic savings of cropping the rail prior to welding and scrapping cropped rail ends would ensue. Tests are summarized, and findings discuss calculated stress range at bolt holes, effect of weld on bolt-hole stress, and relation of test conditions to track conditions. It is concluded that the electric flash pressure weld reduces fatigue strength at bolt holes and increases the possibility of a progressive fracture developing from a bolt hole. Bond-wire holes or welds on sides of butt-welded rails suggests another possibility for progressive fracture. Use of two half joints each side of the weld has no appreciable effect on fatigue strength at the bolt hole regarding development of a progressive fracture from the hole. Use of special washers with high-strength bolts is effective in removing stress concentration effect of the bolt hole, but the procedure is not practical. It is noted that the calculated range of repeated stress at bolt holes to be expected with continuous welded rail in track is so near the fatigue strength as to give little assurance that fatigue cracks would not develop at bolt holes in time.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1964-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 637-649
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 65 N
  • Issue Number: 584
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bend tests; Continuous welded rail; Drop tests; Fatigue tests; Load tests; Rail steel; Railroad rails; Tests; Welding
• Old TRIS Terms: Cropping; Rail drop tests; Rail metallurgy; Rail welding; Slow bend tests
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052309
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM