RAIL WEB FAILURES

Out of 30,881 failures of new rails in U.S.A. tracks in 1942-51, and removed during that period because of defects, 13,554, or 44 percent, were web failures. The great majority of the latter were failures within the area of the rail joint. Laboratory and track tests showed that many web failures could be explained by corrosion-fatigue but not by corrosion alone. Various factors increase the web stresses at rail ends. One is poor or irregular fit of fishplates; loose or worn fishplates or loose fishbolts have a bad effect, as they are liable to cause greater impacts to develop under the rolling load. Excessive gaps at the rail-joints or battered rail ends similarly tend to increased impacts.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Authors:
  • Code, C J
• Publication Date: 1955-2-11

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 162
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 102

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion; Defects; Failure; Fastenings; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fatigue (Physiological condition); Field tests; Inspection; Maintenance of way; Railroad rails; Technology; Tie bars
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Corrosion fatigue; End breaks; Rail failure; Rail inspection; Web defects; Web defects (Rails)
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039636
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM