FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH AND FRACTURE MECHANICS CONSIDERATIONS FOR FLAW INSPECTION OF RAILROAD RAIL

The paper describes a simple crack growth analysis which, in view of the many uncertainties regarding input information, has been found to provide a reasonable approximation of the defect behavior actually observed in service. The analysis undertaken here will be applied only to defects growing transversely within the head of the rail. The analysis shows that rail inspection in curves--(sensitivity and frequency) based upon fatigue crack growth consideration are interrelated to the fracture properties of the rail steels, the characteristics of the track structure, and the type and level of service to be imposed upon the rails. Some preliminary stress calculations have suggested that the application of 20 kip lateral loads, such as might develop under steady state curving conditions, could more than double the peak tensile stresses applied to a subsurface gauge corner defect under the standard vertical load, material, and track characteristic conditions used in this analysis. This observation would imply a more severe defect growth situation in curves -- an observation which is in line with the results of FAST tests.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00255327
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society for Nondestructive Testing

  914 Chicago Avenue
  Evanston, IL  United States  60202
• Authors:
  • Steele, R K
• Publication Date: 1980-10

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 33-38
• Serial:
  • Materials Evaluation
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: American Society for Nondestructive Testing
  • ISSN: 0025-5327

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction scheduling; Cracking; Curved track; Defects; Detection and identification; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fatigue cracking; Fracture mechanics; Inspection; Rail (Railroads); Rail steel; Railroad tracks; Steel; Stresses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation; Rail flaw detection
• Old TRIS Terms: Fast track; Rail stress; Track structures; Transverse defects
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00334443
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 9 1981 12:00AM