00983177

Monograph

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...ail/hsr-37final_report.pdf

This Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project involved research on the welding of railroad rail with the electroslag welding process. The work included a literature search, market survey and welding of 136 lb/yd rail varying voltage, current, electrode speed, chemistry, guide tube configuration, flux and cooling shoe geometry. The welds were tested by a combination of 4 point bend test, microstructure, macrostructure, chemical composition, hardness, strength and toughness. The breaking strength of electroslag welded rail was increased from approximately 170,000 lb to 375,000 lb in the 4 point bend. This is approximately 5% less than the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) rail weld specifications. The running surface and heat affected zone hardnesses were controlled to current AREMA requirements.

This HSR-IDEA project was conducted by Electroslag Systems, Technology and Development, Portland, OR. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

HSR-IDEA Project 37

English

30 p.

2004-11

High-Speed Rail IDEA Program Project Final Report

Appendices (1) ; Figures; Photos; References (4) ; Tables (6)

Bend tests; Chemical composition; Electroslag welding; Hardness; Literature reviews; Market surveys; Microstructure; Railroad rails; Railroad tracks; Strength of materials; Technological innovations; Toughness

Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) (Program)

Macrostructure

Design; Highways; Railroads

TRIS, TRB

Dec 1 2004 12:00AM