Steel rail
Steel rails function as the core part of the railway. They serve to guide the train, bear pressure from the wheels, and transfer the pressure to rail sleepers. To support the train and facilitate traveling, the steel rail must have smooth surface with low resistance.
Raw materials for steel rail
Commonly, rails are made of hot rolled steel and molded into an asymmetrical rounded I-beam. As steel rails are subject to extremely high stress, it has to be made from high quality steel alloy. The raw material for making steel rails has been evolving since the invention of train, including the change from iron to steel. Only when the steel rail and fasteners are strong enough, they can sustain more weight and higher movement speed.
Categories of steel rails
Generally, steel rails are graded based on their weight under standard length. Heavier steel rails have higher strength, which can support larger axle loads and higher train speed with less damage. Meanwhile, their price is much higher than lighter ones.
Steel rails in China
Crane rail
Crane rail includes QU120, QU100, QU80, and QU70. They are mainly made of manganese steel.
Heavy rail
The most widely used types are 38kg, 43kg, and 50kg. The 60kg steel rail is advisable for railways with high speed and large fright volume.
Light rail
Under GB (China national standard), light rail can be classified into 9, 12, 15, 22, and 30kg/m. According to YB (metallurgy Department Standard), there are 8, 18, 24kg/m and other types.
Steel rails of International standards
In terms of the international standard, steel rails can be classified into more types. For instance, ASCE series of America, BS series of British, JIS series of Japan, DIN series of Germany, and UIC series of International Union of Railways.
UIC860-O standard steel rail/UIC54 steel rail
- Size: UIC54, UIC60
- Standard: UIC860-o standard, EN-13674-1
- Material: 900A/1100
- Length: 12-25m
| UIC 860 Standard Rails | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIZE | DIMENSION (mm) | WEIGHT (kg/m) | |||
| A | B | C | t | ||
| UIC | 54 | 70 | 159 | 16 | 54.43 |
| UIC | 60 | 74.3 | 172 | 16.5 | 60.21 |
BS11-1985 standard steel rail
- Size: BS50'O', BS60A, BS60R,BS70A, BS75A, BS75R,BS80A,BS80R, BS90A,BS100A, BS113A
- Standard: BS11-1985 standard
- Material: 700/900A
- Length: 8-25m
| BS11:1985 Standard Rails | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIZE | DIMENSION (mm) | WEIGHT (kg/m) | |||
| A | B | C | t | ||
| 50O | 52.39 | 100.01 | 100.1 | 10.32 | 24.833 |
| 60A | 57.15 | 114.3 | 109.54 | 11.11 | 30.618 |
| 60R | 57.15 | 114.3 | 109.54 | 11.11 | 29.822 |
| 70A | 60.32 | 123.82 | 111.12 | 12.3 | 34.807 |
| 75A | 61.91 | 128.59 | 114.3 | 12.7 | 37.455 |
| 75R | 61.91 | 128.59 | 122.24 | 13.1 | 37.041 |
| 80A | 63.5 | 133.35 | 117.47 | 13.1 | 39.761 |
| 80R | 63.5 | 133.35 | 127 | 13.49 | 39.674 |
| 90A | 66.67 | 142.88 | 127 | 13.89 | 45.099 |
| 100A | 69.85 | 152.4 | 133.35 | 15.08 | 50.182 |
| 113A | 69.85 | 158.75 | 139.7 | 20 | 56.398 |
American standard steel rail
- Size: ASCE25, ASCE30, ASCE40,ASCE60, ASCE75, ASCE85, ASCE90, ASCE115, ASCE136, ASCE175
- Standard: ASTM standard, AREMA standard
- Material: 700/900A/1100
- Length: 6-12m, 12-25m
| SIZE | DIMENSION (mm) | WEIGHT (kg/m) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | t | ||
| ASCE 25 | 38.1 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.4 |
| ASCE 30 | 42.86 | 79.38 | 79.38 | 8.33 | 14.88 |
| ASCE 40 | 47.62 | 88.9 | 88.9 | 9.92 | 19.84 |
| ASCE 60 | 60.32 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 29.76 |
| ASCE 75 | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 |
| ASCE 85 | 65.09 | 131.76 | 131.76 | 14.29 | 42.17 |
| ASCE 90 | 65.09 | 142.88 | 130.18 | 14.29 | 44.65 |
| ASCE 115 | 69.06 | 168.28 | 139.7 | 15.88 | 56.9 |
| ASCE 136 | 74.61 | 185.74 | 152.4 | 17.46 | 67.41 |
| ASCE 175 | 109.86 | 152.4 | 152.4 | 38.1 | 86.8 |
JIS E 1103/1101 standard steel rail
- Size: 15kg, 22kg, 30A, 37A,and 50N, CR73, CR100
- Standard: JIS E1103-93/JIS E1101-93
- Material: According to JIS e standard
- Length: 9-10m
| JIS E 1103/1101 STANDARD | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIZE | DIMENSION (mm) | WEIGHT (kg/m) | |||
| A | B | C | t | ||
| JIS 15KG | 42.86 | 79.37 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 |
| JIS 22KG | 50.8 | 93.66 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 22.3 |
| JIS 30A | 60.33 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 |
| JIS 37A | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 |
| JIS 50N | 65 | 153 | 127 | 15 | 50.4 |
| CR 73 | 100 | 135 | 140 | 32 | 73.3 |
| CR 100 | 120 | 150 | 155 | 39 | 100.2 |
Australian standard steel rail
- Size: 31kg, 41kg, 47kg, 50kg, 53kg, 60kg, 66kg, 68kg, 73kg, 86kg, 89kg
- Standard: As 1085 standard
- Material: 900A/1100
- Length: 8-25m
| AS 1085 Rails | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight(kg/m) | Material | Length(m) | |||
| Head(mm) | Height(mm) | Bottom(mm) | Web(mm); | ||||
| 31KG | 63.5 | 117.5 | 108 | 11.5 | 31.5 | 900A/1100 | 8-25 |
| 47KG | 70 | 141.3 | 127 | 14.3 | 46.5 | 900A/1100 | 8-25 |
| 50KG | 70 | 154 | 127 | 15 | 50.8 | 900A/1100 | 8-25 |
| 60KG | 70 | 170 | 146 | 16.5 | 61 | 900A/1100 | 8-25 |
| 68KG | 73.4 | 186 | 152 | 17.5 | 67.6 | 900A/1100 | 8-25 |
| 73KG | 70 | 157 | 146 | 32 | 73.63 | 900A/1100 | 8-25 |
| 86KG | 102 | 102 | 165 | 84.11 | 85.5 | 900A/1100 | 8-25 |
| 89KG | 102 | 114 | 178 | 51 | 89.81 | 900A/1100 | 8-25 |
