Increasing the operational stability of running surfaces of aluminothermiс welded rail joints by hot grinding

Abstract

Welded joints have traditionally been a weak point in a design of continuous welded rail (CWR) tracks. Grinding can be used as a resource-saving technology. The purpose of this paper is to study the grinding technology for welded rail joints at different temperatures. The temperature in the weld grinding zone varied from 560 to 850 °С. Using methods of microstructural analysis and hardness measurement, it has been established that different temperature conditions for weld grinding lead to the creation of non-identical mechanical properties of metal and a surface structure of the rail head in the weld zone. As a result of the research, an optimum temperature range, 600 ... 560 °C, was determined. This range is recommended for grinding aluminothermic welded joints.