Analysis of Highly Defective Rails with Horizontal Splitting in the Head

Abstract

Safe movement of the rolling stock is the major responsibility of every country with an operating railway sector. This type of major defect under code XX 30.1, once detected, poses a threat to further operation of the rolling stock. Horizontal splitting in the head reaching deeper than 8 mm from the tread surface can result in chipping of the rail head, which in its turn can cause the rolling stock to run off the track. This article discusses statistics of highly defective rails under code 30.1 in Latvian railway between 2011 and 2018. A piece of chip from the rail head of type R-65 was examined. This fragment of rail was examined for metal hardness, chemical composition and metal microstructures. Full evaluation and main conclusions were made about the quality of rail steel, and also versions of occurrence and development of this type of major defect were discussed.