NONDESTRUCTIVE MEASUREMENT OF LONGITUDINAL RAIL STRESSES

A study of the effect of applied stress on the wave velocity (acoustoelasticity) of railroad rail steel has shown that a potentially useful technique exists for the nondestructive measurement of longitudinal stresses. The detection of extreme stress levels would contribute toward increased rail safety by decreasing accidents due to track buckling and weld pull aparts in continuously welded rail. Velocity variations between various new rails and between new and used rails were found to be significant. The overall effect of this is expected to be minimized by either establishing a base line velocity profile for rail or by comparing the velocity change of two waves, each experiencing a different change with applied stress.

• Record URL:
  https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/nondestructive-measurement-longitudinal-rail-stresses-interim-report
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Oklahoma, Norman

  School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
  Norman, OK  United States  73069
• Authors:
  • Egle, D M
  • Bray, D E
• Publication Date: 1975-6

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 127 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buckling; Inspection; Nondestructive tests; Railroad rails; Railroad tracks; Stresses; Testing; Thermal stresses; Ultrasonic tests; Welded rail
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail stress; Rail thermal stresses
• Subject Areas: Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158198
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA/OR&D-76-270 Intrm Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-OS-40091
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM