NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

9801

D. C. Department of Highways & Traffic

Washington, D. C.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The National Bureau of Standards1 provides measurement and technical information services

essential to the efficiency and effectiveness of the work of the Nation’s scientists and engineers. The

Bureau serves also as a focal point in the Federal Government for assuring maximum application of

the physical and engineering sciences to the advancement of technology in industry and commerce. To

accomplish this mission, the Bureau is organized into three institutes covering broad program areas of

research and services:

THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC STANDARDS . .

. provides the central basis within the United

States for a complete and consistent system of physical measurements, coordinates that system with the

measurement systems of other nations, and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform

physical measurements throughout the Nation’s scientific community, industry, and commerce. This

Institute comprises a series of divisions, each serving a classical subject matter area: —Applied Mathematics—Electricity—Metrology—Mechanics—Heat—Atomic Physics—Physical

Chemistry—Radiation Physics—Laboratory Astrophysics2—Radio Standards Laboratory, 2 which

includes Radio Standards Physics and Radio Standards Engineering—Office of Standard Refer- ence Data. THE INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH . . . conducts materials research and provides

associated materials services including mainly reference materials and data on the properties of materials. Beyond its direct interest to the Nation’s scientists and engineers, this Institute yields services

which are essential to the advancement of technology in industry and commerce. This Institute is or- ganized primarily by technical fields: —Analytical Chemistry—Metallurgy—Reactor Radiations—Polymers—Inorganic Materials—Cryogenics2—Office of Standard Reference Materials.

THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY . .

. provides technical services to promote the use of available technology and to facilitate technological innovation in industry and government. The

principal elements of this Institute are: —Building Research—Electronic Instrumentation—Technical Analysis—Center for Computer Sci- ences and Technology—Textile and Apparel Technology Center—Office of Weights and Measures —Office of Engineering Standards Services—Office of Invention and Innovation-—Office of Vehicle

Systems Research—Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information3—Materials

Evaluation Laboratory—NBS/GSA Testing Laboratory.

1 Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, Maryland, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington, D. C., 20234.

2 Located at Boulder, Colorado, 80302.

3 Located at 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22151.
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

NBS PROJECT

flpp

3120625 (G-39216)

NBS REPORT

980 1

WELDABILITY OF A RAILROAD RAIL

By

I. J. Feinberg

Engineering Metallurgy Section

Metallurgy Division

To

Material Developments Research Division

D. C. Department of Highways & Traffic

Washington, D. C.

IMPORTANT NOTICE NATIONAL BUREAU OF ST

for use within the Government, and review. For this reason, th whole or in part, is not autho Bureau of Standards, Washingi

the Report has been specificall;

Approved for public release by the

Director of the National Institute of

Standards and Technology (NIST) on October 9, 2015

°ss accounting documents intended

subjected to additional evaluation

; listing of this Report, either in

ie Office of the Director, National

by the Government agency for which

copies for its own use. <NBS>

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
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312.01/G-39216

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

Report

on WELDABILITY OF A RAILROAD RAIL

Submi t ted by

Materials Development & Research Division

D. C. Department of Highways & Traffic

Washi ngton, D . C

.

Reference : D. C. Department of Highways and Traffic, Materials Development and

Research Division, Engineer of Materials and Research request for

tests dated March 12, I 968 .

Test Requirements : The reference requested a test for the weldability of a railroad rail sample designated D. C. Lab. No. 3352, Contract No. 19893*

Chemi ca 1 Ana lysis : The rail sample was found to contain the following elements

Carbon,

Manganese,

Chromi urn. Nickel,

Mo 1 ybdenum,

0 . 45/0

1 . 07%

less than 0 . 05%

less than 0 . 05%

less than 0 . 05%

The chemical composition is similar to that for A.i.S.I. C 1046.

Hardness : An average brinell hardness of 214 was found. At this hardness the

approximate equivalent tensile strength is 102,000 PSI.

Discussion and Conclusions : The carbon and manganese contents of the rail

sample are higher than that affording the best welding conditions. Because

of the composition, cracking of the welds is a possibility.

For welding the rail it is suggested that arc welding with a low hydrogen

electrode, E 7OI 5 or E 7OI 6 , using a 500-700° F pre-heat and a 1100° F post heat

be tried. Using the shielded metal arc welding process, Linde 65 wire may be

tried with the aforementioned pre- and post heat treatments.

USCOMM-NBS-DC