CAUSES OF SHELLY SPOTS AND HEAD CHECKS IN RAIL- METHODS FOR THEIR PREVENTION

Progress on the continuous study of shelly spots and head checks in rail was presented. Heat-treated rail tests indicate that its use extended the life of a rail before gage corner shelling occured. Appendix 10-a described studies at the University of Illinois where examinations of shelly rails from service and laboratory tests to produce shelling were performed. It was observed that the black shelly spots developed by two processes. Two rolling-load test on an alloy rail were high. Examination of the failed specimen revealed non-metallic inclusions. Rolling-load tests on heat-treated rail specimens of standard chemical analysis compared with non-heat-treated companions revealed that heat-treated specimens gave 3 to 4 times the performance of the non-heat-treated specimens. Appendix 10-b presented a summary report on the examination of rails containing detail fractures found by detector cars. The purpose was to determine if the chemistry, mechanical properties, or structures of detail fracture rails varied from those of random rails. The average chemical analyses and mechanical properties of 44 rails having detail fractures and 26 random rails were so nearly the same that no distinction between the two groups was possible. The mechanical tests included hardness, tensile properties, and impact properties. Examination of deep etched structures and microstructures of detail fracture rails indicated that the steel used was of relatively good quality.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1950

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 595-620
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 51
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fracture mechanics; Heat treated rail; Railroad rails; Shelling (Metals)
• Old TRIS Terms: Head checks; Rail fracture; Rail shelling
• Subject Areas: Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052447
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM