METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF FOUR ELECTRIC-FLASH BUTT WELD SERVICE FAILURES SUBMITTED BY THE FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY

An investigation was made to determine the cause of four electric-flash butt welded rail joint service failures. These four failures are representative of a group of 13 or more failures that occurred in a short period after laying. From the results of this investigation it is believed that these failures are not related to the quality of the rails or the soundness of the welds. It was later disclosed that the rail ends were cropped with a petrogen torch prior to welding. Information was also received that the time between cutting and welding could range from a few days to several weeks. It is possible that incipient cracks formed during cropping of rail ends. Once these incipient cracks have formed, further development of the crack can occur on reheating, such as during the welding operation. A second possible cause for these failures is that the amount of rail cropped from the ends of these secondhand rails was insufficient to remove bolt-hole cracks that extend back into the web. From this investigation it is believed that these failures can be attributed to (1) cutting the rail ends with a petrogen torch, (2) incomplete removal of existing bolt-hole cracks, or a combination of both these factors.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1967-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 460-462
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 68
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bolts; Cracking; Defects; Failure; Holes; Rail joints; Railroad rails; Technology; Welded rail; Welding
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Bolt holes; Cropping; Fissures (Rails); Rail failure; Rail welding
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040431
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Bulletin 605
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 22 1976 12:00AM