How to select the appropriate thickness of rail rubber pad?
The appropriate thickness for a rail rubber pad depends on the rail type and application, with common choices ranging from thin pads for light rail to thicker pads for heavy and high-speed lines. Generally, use thinner pads (6-10mm) for urban transit and thicker pads (12-20mm) for high-speed, heavy-duty cargo, or conventional lines to manage higher loads and vibration.
| Rubber Rail Pad | ||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Value |
| Stiffness | KN | 90-130 |
| Hardness Shore A | ℃ | 72-80 degree |
| Electronic Resistance | Ω | ≥ 106 |
| Tensile Strength before Aging | Mpa | ≥12.5 |
| Elongation before Aging | % | ≥250 |
Common thickness guidelines by application
- Urban Rail Transit (Light Rail): Thinner pads (6-10mm) are used to handle lighter trains and reduce noise.
- Conventional Railways: Pads around 10mm are common, and thicker pads (12-15mm) can be used to cope with slight track settlement.
- High-Speed Rail: Thicker pads (12-15mm) are often used to provide better elasticity and vibration absorption.
- Heavy-Duty/Cargo Lines: Thicker pads (12-20mm or more) are needed to handle large weights and distribute heavy axle loads, helping with impact resistance and track longevity.
Other factors to consider
- Load and Speed: The heavier the train and the faster it runs, the thicker the pad generally needs to be to absorb forces and distribute stress.
- Track Settlement: Thicker pads can be used to help adjust for minor track settlement and can be chosen for lines with more significant settlement issues.
- Vibration and Noise: Thicker pads are better at absorbing vibrations, which reduces noise and wear on the track components.
- Rail Type: Different rail profiles (e.g., UIC50 vs. UIC60) have different load capacities and will require components, including rubber pads, that are precisely adapted to them.
As a professional rubber rail pad manufacturer GNEE RAIL can produce various standards of rubber rail pads and other rail fasteners. If you want to build a railway line, do not hesitate to contact us, we can supply all types of rubber rail pads with different materials. If necessary, we can make customized rubber rail pad production.
