Abstract: This thesis is a study on different steps of the rail life cycle and their effect on the rail life. The goal of the thesis is to provide an overview of the rail life cycle and a basic understanding on how different factors affect it. This thesis is based on literature, specialist interviews and visits to the track. In addition, an analysis of various statistics of the Finnish railway network, such as rail defect statistics, is also included in some parts. Rail life cycle begins with the manufacturing of steel. The steel is then cast into billets, which are rolled into rails. The tracks built today are mainly done with continuously welded rails. The rails are welded into continuous strands, which can be up to several kilometers long. The main welding techniques that are used nowadays are thermite and electric flash butt welding. Both the environment and the traffic exert the rail in service, which finally leads to the deterioration of the rail. Whether a certain part of the rail becomes flawed and what kind of flaws appear in that rail, is dictated by various factors, such as the properties of the rail, track and traffic. A change in circumstances can lead to defects, which have not previously been present on that line. For example, the presence of rolling contact fatigue related flaws on Finnish rail network has been noticed for the first time during the last couple of years. In order to detect the flaws, the rails are inspected. Nowadays, the most common inspection method is ultrasonic inspection. To maintain the good condition of the rails and to remove the defects in them, rail grinding and rail repair, such as resurfacing by arc welding, are done as maintenance procedures. When a rail has reached the end of its life, it is renewed. The rails that are removed from service, can be reused in secondary tracks that have less traffic. This report may be found at http://alk.tiehallinto.fi/julkaisut/pdf3/lts_2011-01_ratakiskon_elinkaari_web.pdf
Publication Year: 2011
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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