COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS FOR ASSESSING RESIDUAL STRESSES IN RAILS

This article reports on a study which was conducted to assess the possibility of determining the maximum residual stress on the rolling surface of the rail head, in the web, and in the central portion of the base from data obtained by examining the contraction of a longitudinal gap-cut in a rail web. The results obtained by measuring stress parameters in 119 specimens that were heat treated and straightened using different techniques were statistically processed to determine the residual stresses by gap-cut and strain-gage methods. Schematic diagrams are provided which show the machining of the specimens and the location of sensors. Scatter-field and regression-line curves are used to plot the data for residual stress in rail profile elements and gap widenings.