Laboratory test standards for
assessment of rail fastening
system performance
David Rhodes, PhD - Pandrol Ltd., UK
Bob Coats, P.E. - Pandrol USA
Rail Fastening System Qualification
Tests
Europe – CEN (EN 13481-2)
Japan – Railway Technical Research
Institute (RTRI)
North America – AREMA (Ch. 30)
Global Influence (Australia, Africa + others)
TEST
CEN
Longitudinal Rail Restraint
Torsion
Attenuation of impact loads
Repeated Load Test
Electrical Resistance
Severe (Corrosive) Environments
Wet & Abrasive Environments
Clamping Force
Insert Pullout
Rail Pad Dynamic Stiffness
Vertical Stiffness
Lateral Restraint
Rail Uplift
Dimensional Assessment
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
AREMA Subject No.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
2
4
3
5
1
5
2
3
Electrical Testing
Electrical Test Requirements
CEN: 5 kΩ Resistance minimum
After water spray, corrected for resistivity
AREMA: 10 kΩ Impedance minimum
After submerged soak
Clamping Force (of rail clips)
Determination of Clamping Force
BS EN 13146-7:2002
Longitudinal Restraint
Determination of Longitudinal Rail
Restraint
BS EN 13146-1:2002
Longitudinal Restraint
CEN: Pull to slip, 7 kN (1,574 lb.) minimum
AREMA: 2,400 lb. (10.7 kN) without slip
Vertical Stiffness
Determination of Vertical Stiffness BS
EN 13146-4:2002
Determination of Attenuation of
Impact loads
EN 13146-3:2002
Torsion
Determination of Torsional Resistance
BS EN 13146-2:2002
Repeated Load Test
Repeated Load Test - Purpose
Pre Repeated Load Test Series
Clamping Force
Longitudinal Rail Restraint
Vertical Stiffness
Repeated Load Test
Post Repeated Load Test Series
Clamping Force
Longitudinal Rail Restraint
Repeated Load Test – Track Data
Goal: Match Repeated Load Test to Rail Life
Rail Life in Track?
Track MGT per Year
Years to 3 BGT
Years to 1 BGT
10
300
100
50
60
20
100
30
10
150
20
6.7
Laboratory Test
Calculating number of test cycles to correspond to 3 BGT /
MGT
28600 31500
Car Weight
262000
0
0
Axle Load
65500 71500 78750
Wheel Load
32750 35750 39375
Railseat Load
16375 17875 19688(assuming 1/2 wheel load on railseat)
In theory, four 20 kip load cycles equates to one 315,000 lb.
car
One MGT equates to
6349cars or
25397cycles
76190
76.2 million
Three BGT equates to
476cycles or
cycles
Repeated Load testing at 3.5 Hz,
6047hours
21768 seconds of testing is
707 required
252days
36weeks
8.4 Months running 24/7
250
12
4
300
10
3.3
136RE 20kip Lateral Load
Typical Rail Clip Loads
136RE 20kip Lateral Load
Typical Rail Clip Loads
136RE 20kip Lateral Load
Typical Rail Clip Loads
Instructions for the Cyclic Loading on
an Assembly
EN 13146-4:2002
Instructions for the Cyclic Loading on
an Assembly
EN 13146-4:2002
Repeated Load
test to RTRI
Standards
(Japan)
AREMA
Fmax (2)
Kips (kN)
Light Rail
Gen Freight / Transit
Heavy Haul
30 (133)
32.5 (145)
Fmin
-3.3 (15)
1 kip
lateral
CEN
Angle α
Deg
20
27.5
L/V
Ratio
0.52
Fmax
Fmin
Kips (kN)
12 (55)
17 (75)
19 (83)
1 (5)
1 (5)
1 (5)
Angle α
Deg
38.6
33
33
L/V
Ratio
0.80
0.65
0.65
Laboratory test standards for
assessment of rail fastening
system performance
David Rhodes, PhD - Pandrol Ltd., UK
Bob Coats, P.E. - Pandrol USA