THE FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF CARBON-STEEL, ALLOY-STEEL AND HEAT-TREATED RAILWAY RAILS

The static and dynamic fracture toughness of standard carbon steel rail was determined using precracked Charpy bars. The static, fracture toughness was found to be higher than the dynamic fracture toughness across the entire range of railway operating conditions. Since rails are subjected to dynamic loading conditions, dynamic fracture toughness tests were conducted on specimens from alloy-steel and heat-treated rails in order to compare fracture properties. In addition, the standard British rail steel and two heat-treated grades of British rail steel were evaluated. It was found that carbon levels above 0.55 w/o did not affect fracture toughness while increasing silicon decreased fracture toughness in both high and low carbon rails. In line with earlier work, it was found that decreasing pearlite spacing increased fracture toughness. In addition, the effects of manganese, chromium and molybdenum are discussed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads Research Center

  3140 South Federal Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60616
• Authors:
  • Stone, D H
• Publication Date: 1974-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carriers; Economics; Failure; Fracture properties; Laws and legislation; Metallurgy; Motor carriers; Rail steel; Railroad rails; Resource allocation; Transportation
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail failure; Rail steel metallurgy
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Law; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00098079
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: R-163
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 13 1976 12:00AM