INVESTIGATE CAUSES OF SHELLY SPOTS AND HEAD CHECKS IN RAIL SURFACES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING MEASURES FOR THEIR PREVENTION

Causes of shelly spots and head checks in rail surfaces are investigated, and preventative measures are presented. Topics discussed include mill chemistry records; curvature tabulation, elevation, speeds, and grades; effect of rail lubricators, transposing rails, slow cold rolling; field tests of special rails; experience of roads having these defects; radius of gage corners of rail, tread of wheels, radius between flange and tread of wheels; relationship between wear of rail and wheel; bearing pressure of wheel on rail; cant of rail; superelevation of rail on curves; examination of service rail failures caused by these defects; rolling-load tests to produce these effects under laboratory conditions; resistance of rail steel of various composition to the development of these defects under laboratory conditions; resistance of different heat treatments of rails to the development of these defects under laboratory conditions. Progress is made but no definite solution has been found.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1945

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 643-659
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 46
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Maintenance of way; Rail steel; Railroad rails; Shelling (Metals); Tests
• Old TRIS Terms: Head checks; Rail metallurgy; Rail shelling; Rail technology
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052470
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM