REPORT FROM FAST--RECENT TEST EXPERIENCES

Recent results from acceleerated rail testing performed at the Transportation Test Center are reviewed. This includes rail wear and rail fatigue experiments. Results are from full-scale field tests performed at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST). These data represent performance under fully loaded hopper cars of 130 tons each load on the rail. Wear information for standard, alloy, and head-hardened rails under dry conditions is presented. The data allow curve wear life comparisons to be made for rails with differing chemistry and manufactured by different processes. Rail life was extended by reduction of wear through the use of lubrication to evaluate fatigue resistance. In this evaluation program, different lubrication levels were maintained to demonstrate the effect of various wear rates on defect occurrence and growth. Eliminating rail wear increased the defect rate significantly. Rail of higher hardness, in the range of 300 BHN and higher, offered an improvement over softer rails in fatigue resistance.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1988/1174/1174-009.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309047145
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1174, Rail Replacement and Maintenance Management. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Reiff, R P
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 81-93
• Monograph Title: Rail Replacement and Maintenance Management
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1174
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerated tests; Defects; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fatigue strength; Fatigue tests; Field tests; Hardness; Rail lubrication; Railroad rails; Railroad tracks; Wear
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00483822
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309047145
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 31 1989 12:00AM