CAUSES OF SHELLY SPOTS AND HEAD CHECKS IN RAIL- METHODS OF THEIR PREVENTION

Causes of shelly spots and head checks in rail are discussed, and methods for their prevention are recommended. Research conducted by the research staff of the Engineering Division of AAR and by the University of Illinois is reported. Inspections of service tests of heat-treated and alloy rail are made at nine locations, including five tests of heat-treated rail, two of chrome vanadium alloy, and two of high-silicon rail. The final report of heat-treated rails on the Norfolk & Western Railway reveals a very definite advantage of heat- treated rail over standard control-cooled rail, with rail life increased by 2 1/2 times in the case of shelling. Economic advantage of heat-treated rail involves a rail life 4 1/2 times that of standard rail. University of Illinois reports results of mechanical and rolling-load tests to produce shelling failure and details fractures and tests of six rails which developed detail fractures in service.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1957

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1026-10
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 58
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alloy steel; Economic factors; Heat treated rail; Railroad rails; Service life; Shelling (Metals)
• Old TRIS Terms: Head checks; Rail life; Rail shelling
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052398
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM