ENGINEERING ASPECTS OF CURRENT RAIL SECTIONS

This investigation of the engineering aspects of current rail sections falls into four phases. 1) Flexural Stiffness and Strength --The additional stiffness as indicated by the moment of inertia and strength as indicated by the section modulus of the 106 CF&I, 119 CF&I and 136 CF&I sections are increased approximately in proportion to the additional amount of metal provided in these sections. 2) Shape of Head Contour--Measurements indicate the rolled contour of the 115 RE and 132 RE sections fit the worn wheel contour better than the 119 CR&I and 136 CF&I sections. Better service performance as to the development of shelling is concerned can be expected from them. Narrowing of the rail head decreases the radius of hollowing of worn car wheels with resultant increase in wheel contact pressures and internal direct stresses and shearing stresses within the rail head. 3) Depth of Rail Head--Increased depth of rail head in the CF&I sections provides additional metal for vertical head wear. Measurements of actual vertical head wear as related to traffic and traffic densities indicate the present RE sections have adequate depth of head to provide a full usable life of the rail. 4) Localized Web and Fillet Stresses--Measurements indicate that upper fillet stresses in the web are reduced with the CF&I sections as compared to corresponding RE sections.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This article is an abstract of Report No. ER-15.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1962-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 553-569
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 63 N
  • Issue Number: 570
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Railhead; Railroad rails; Shelling (Metals); Stresses; Structural design; Wear
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail design; Rail shelling; Rail stress
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052327
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM