COUPLER STEEL STUDY

FRA regulations stipulate that only approved couplers may be used on tank cars. Since some considerations was given a requirement for the use of Grade "E" steel in Type "F" couplers, the AAR Research and Test Department undertook a preliminary study of the properties of "C" and "E" steels in "F" couplers selected at random from stocks about to be utilized by railroads. The increase of strength between "C" steel and "E" steel does not contribute to an increase in a tendency toward brittle failure. In fact, the increase in strength is accompanied by a reduction in the transition temperature. Brittle service failures can be expected, especially in winter operating circumstances with heavy loads. The macroscopic examination reveals that the quality of the castings is lower than should be expected of material subjected to high service loading.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contributing agencies are the Battelle Memorial Institute and the Southern Railway System.
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads Research Center

  3140 South Federal Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60616
• Authors:
  • Wisnowski, M J
• Publication Date: 1970-12

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 49 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cold weather; Couplers; Fracture mechanics; Impact loads; Metallurgy; Operations; Steel; Tank cars
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Federal Railroad Administration
• Old TRIS Terms: Impact loading
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080122
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: R-107 Proj. Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1976 12:00AM