PROPERTIES OF ISOTHERMALLY QUENCHED AND ALLOY STEEL RAILS

In laboratory and production-scale trials, rails were subjected to austenitizing temperature 850 to 900 C (holding for 1-1/2 hr), cooling for 35 to 40 min in a molten bath of 50% KNO sub 3 and 50% NaNO sub 3 with a water addition of 9.68% to increase cooling efficiency. The temperature of the molten bath varied between 280 and 320 C according to the chemical composition of the steel. The rails are rinsed in hot water (50 C) after quenching. Properties were investigated on sections from carbon, silicon, chromium and Cr-Si-Mn steel rails. The isothermally quenched rails had a high tensile (130 to 160 kg/sq mm) and fatigue strength (53 to 68 kb/sq mm) and, with optimum structure, showed good resistance to brittle failure. Ductile and impact properties were satisfactory and a more favourable pattern of internal residual stresses was obtained.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This abstract is also contained in "A Bibliography on the Design and Performance of Rail Track Structures", September 1974, RRIS #072794, which was prepared for the Urban Mass Transportation Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Metals Society

  1 Carlton House Terrace
  London SW1Y 5DB,   England 
• Authors:
  • Kazarnovskii, D S
  • Pridantsev, M V
  • Babich, A P
  • Gurenko, V D
  • Biryukova, V N
  • Aref'ev, B V
• Publication Date: 1970-5

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 465-468
• Serial:
  • Stahl
  • Issue Number: 5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alloy steel; Carbon steel; Fatigue strength; Fracture mechanics; Rail steel; Railroad rails; Structural tests; Tension
• Uncontrolled Terms: Quenching; Tensile stress
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail metallurgy; Rail tests
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00072808
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 11 1976 12:00AM