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

A summary of the performance of five test installations of heat-treated rail was presented. Appendix 9-a presented the progress of shelly rail studies at the University of Illinois. Repeat cradle type rolling-load tests on two specimens of manganese chrome, vanadium alloy rail indicated that these rails may be several times as good as standard carbon steel rails. A test of 115-lb heat-treated standard carbon rail indicated that this type was as good as the manganese, chrome, vanadium alloy steel of the heat-treated standard carbon steel rails. An electron micrograph of nickel alloy steel showed detail in fine pearlite structure which was not revealed by a light microscope. Appendix 9-b presented a summary of progress on the investigation of stress relaxation in rail steel. The work was in two areas: 1) Relaxation of stresses in small bar specimens was studied as a function of time and temperature, and 2) rolling-load fatigue tests on small systems. Specimens cut from the top section of the rail were tested and results indicated possibly larger values of relaxation in percent of applied stress than for other specimens. Rolling-load fatigue tests produced failures that require further investigation of the effect of alleviation of damage by stress relaxing heat-treatment.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1952

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 899-920
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 53
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alloy steel; Heat treated rail; Load tests; Rail steel; Railroad rails; Shelling (Metals); Stress relieving
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail metallurgy; Rail shelling
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052434
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM