Abstract
The paper describes the experimental stress analysis of a range of rail sections and a fishplated joint carried out by means of a loading frame which accommodated a short length of track, hydraulic jacks with load cells, and electrical resistance strain gauges.
The most detailed test was that of the B.S. 110A rail which after being tested ‘as rolled’ was successively re-tested at states representing six stages of head wear, simulated by planing the rail head. The stress ranges determined under various loading conditions were compared with those for a bullhead rail planed to represent its known safe limit of wear and gave a guide to the permissible head wear of the B.S. 110A rail from stress criteria. The B.R. 116 lb/yd thick web rail was tested for comparison with the B.S. 110A, and rails representing three weights of the new B.S. A series were compared with three of the older B.S. R series rails of the same weights. From the test results various general conclusions have been drawn. The relationships between rail weight, head wear and fillet stresses, and the effect of different fastenings are discussed.
A fishplated joint for 60 lb/yd rail was tested. The fillet, bolthole and bending stresses on the rail end, and the bending and bolthole stresses on the fishplates were determined. Although this is a light rail by modern main-line standards, the stress distributions and the conclusions drawn are believed to be typical of joints in heavier rail also.
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