On the Question of Monitoring Residual Stresses in Selectively Heat-Strengthened Rails

Abstract

The question is considered of the relationship between the divergence of a longitudinal (400 mm) groove in the rail web, used as an indirect residual-stress–based rejection criterion, with internal stresses measured by acoustic strain gaging across the rail section. The internal stresses have also been evaluated in individual rail elements after cutting. A finite element simulation in the COMSOL Multiphysics software environment has been performed in order to establish connection between groove divergence and stresses. Results are presented for experimental measurements over 49 sections of different rails. The relationship is demonstrated between the stress level in rail elements and the level of stresses measured by an electromagnetic-acoustic structuroscope in an experiment on the side of the railhead. Based on the modeling and experimental results, an acoustoelastic technique is proposed for monitoring residual stresses in rails as an expert method with a rejection level of 80 MPa when sounding a rail section on the side of its head.