Rail Pad is a critical track component that must meet strict performance indicators. Key performance aspects include compressive strength, rebound rate, aging resistance, and fatigue resistance. The permanent compression deformation rate must be ≤15% (70°C × 24 h), and fatigue resistance must pass a 2 million-cycle load test without damage. Additionally, it must exhibit certain weather resistance, tolerating temperature variations from -40°C to 60°C, and resist UV and ozone aging, making it suitable for outdoor track projects under various climatic conditions.
What are the common types of rail pads?
Common rail pad types are categorized by material, like Rubber, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), TPU/TPV, and composites, offering different elasticity, durability, and insulation for ballasted/non-ballasted tracks, high-speed rail, and cranes, often featuring grooves to manage load and vibration.
| Raw Material | Rubber, EVA, TPEE, HDPE |
| Standard | UIC, AREMA, TB/T2626-95 |
| Application | 43kg/m, 50kg/m, 60kg/m, 75kg/m,115RE, UIC54, UIC60, S49 |
| Model number | 43-7-7, 43-10-7, 50-7-9, 50-10-9, 60-10-17, 60-12-17 |
| Operating temperature | -50~70 degrees |
| Certificate | MSDS, ROHS, REACH |
| Notes | They should be stored in a clean, ventilated place. Don't be in direct sunlight, and keep away from the heat source and chemical reagent. Don't touch the oil, organic solvent, and other chemicals. Banned exposure. |
Common Forms:
- Grooved Pads: Feature grooves to control load-deflection, maintaining contact with the rail and preventing loosening.
- Rectangular & Trapezoidal Pads: Rectangular for straight tracks, trapezoidal for curves.
- Sole Plates/Cushions: General terms for these elastic pads placed under the rail base plate or directly on the sleeper.
Rail Pads Role and Railway Safety
The rail pad, in the early times named sole plate, is used below rail track and concrete. Rail pads are added to reduce fatigue cracking of the concrete ties, by relief impact and vibration from the passing train.
It is thought that the rail pads have 2 main functions: they diminish shock or impact loads by providing compliance, and they reduce (by isolation and perhaps by damping) resonant vibrations created in the concrete ties (lowest resonant frequency about 200 Hz) and accommodate vibration deflections in the rail sections between the ties (about 0.12mm amplitude, 1000 Hz).
GNEE RAIL provides exceptional elastic rail pads of various types for high-speed railways, normal-speed railways, and cranes. Especially the rail pads made of rubber, EVA, TPEE, and HDPE are very popular with customers. Our railway rubber pads fit the rails such as UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs, BS100lbs, etc. We have more than 130set of machines in our production lines which can reach an annual production capacity of up to 2000, 000 pieces of rail pads. We offer a wide range of rail pads and other track materials at competitive prices.
