Measurement of residual stresses in aluminothermic rail welds using neutron diffraction technique
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Date
2012-11-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE)
Abstract
Aluminothermic welding is widely used as an in-track process to continuously weld rail tracks on site. This process provides increased flexibility compared to the use of mobile Flashbutt welding equipment; however the cast structure and variable quality results in increased failure rates. One of these failure modes is straight break which initiates at the edge of the weld collar in the lower head and upper foot sections. In order to examine the fatigue behavior of the weld by using multi-axle fatigue analysis, residual stresses in critical areas need to be investigated. In this paper, we are showing preliminary neutron diffraction residual stress measurements in the critical region of the rail foot area at two sides of the weld collar, which have been determined using strain scanner Kowari at ANSTO. The result shows high longitudinal stresses in the location which is prone to the failure approximately 50 mm away from the weld's toe. The pros and cons of the measurement technique in relation to the weld rails components will be discussed and future research plans will be presented.
Description
Not available online. Conference Handbook is held by ANSTO Library at DDC 539.758/9.
Keywords
Fatigue, Residual stresses, Stresses, Railways, Welding, Neutron diffraction
Citation
Khodabakhshi, B.' Mutton, Paradowska, A., & Ibrahim, R. (2012). Measurement of residual stresses in aluminothermic rail welds using neutron diffraction technique. Paper presented at the 10th AINSE-ANBUG Neutron Scattering Symposium (AANSS), Sydney, 7- 9 November 2012, (pp. 53)