What are the properties of rail steel? - Knowledge

Steel rail, we also called the railway track, it is crucial to the steel railing system. As a rail component of the railway system, steel rail guides the train forward and bears the enormous pressure. Meanwhile, the steel rails convey the pressure to the railway sleepers. So steel rails play a big role in the railway system and the quality of the steel rails is much important.

What are the properties of rail steel?

Rail steel properties focus on extreme durability: high hardness, wear resistance, fatigue strength, and fracture toughness, achieved with high carbon/manganese content and often heat treatment, making it resistant to deformation, abrasion, and impact for safe, long-lasting railways, unlike standard steel. Key properties include high tensile strength, yield strength, hardness (e.g., >388HB for HH grades), excellent wear/fatigue resistance, good weldability, and resistance to brittle fracture.

Key Mechanical Properties

High Strength & Hardness: Resists crushing and plastic deformation from heavy loads.

Wear Resistance: Surface work-hardens under friction, providing long life.

heavy rail

Fatigue Strength: Withstands millions of stress cycles without cracking.

Toughness & Ductility: Resists brittle fracture, especially with added elements like manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr).

Weldability: Can be welded for repairs, though specific grades vary.

Materials of Steel Rail

Graded steel is the primary material in the rail manufacturing process. Numerous operational and safety concerns apply as the components are vulnerable to shatter cracks or flakes. Testing existing structures for potential weaknesses requires sustained effort.

heavy rail

The chemical composition of the steel alloy used in heavy and light components is balanced to yield material strength, flexibility, tolerance for wear, and temperature changes. Enhanced rigidity of steel is achieved by creating alloys of carbon, silicon, phosphorous, and manganese. This changes the microstructure of the alloy, altering its mechanical properties. While superior tensile strength and hardness withstand greater loads and speeds, they may possess increased susceptibility to low-temperature brittleness and fracturing.

GNEE RAIL Commonly Used Steel Chemical Compositions:

Steel Grade	C (%)	Si	Mn	P	S
U71Mn	0.65~0.76	0.15~0.58	0.70~1.40	≤0.035	≤0.030
50Mn	0.47-0.55	0.17-0.37	0.70-1.00	≤0.030	≤0.030
60Mn	0.57–0.65	≤ 0.40	0.70–1.00	≤ 0.030	≤ 0.030
R260	0.60–0.80	0.10–0.50	0.80-1.30	≤ 0.025	≤ 0.020
R350HT	0.65–0.82	0.10–0.50	0.80–1.50	≤ 0.025	≤ 0.020
1080	0.75–0.88	≤ 0.40	0.60–0.90	≤ 0.030	≤ 0.030
1084	0.80–0.93	≤ 0.40	0.60–0.90	≤ 0.030	≤ 0.030

Since 2008, GNEE RAIL has been supplying steel rails of different grades for more than 18 years, steel rails from GNEE is highly recommened in China and abroad.Wtih cutting edge equipment, GNEE produces high quality steel rails that meet with requirements of most countries. Standard rail, head hardened rail, heavy rail,light rail,crane rail and other types are all available here, as one of the China main rail supplier, GNEE RAIL has been working on supplying economical green railway products all over the world.

Classification		Height(mm)	Head (mm)	Bottom (mm)	Thick(mm)	Weight (kg/m)
Light Rail	8 KG/M	65	25	54	7	8.42
	9 KG/M	63.5	32.1	63.5	5.9	8.94
	12 KG/M	69.85	38.1	69.85	7.54	12.2
	15 KG/M	79.37	42.86	79.37	8.33	15.2
	18 KG/M	80	40	80	10	18.06
	22 KG/M	93.66	50.8	93.66	10.72	22.3
	24 KG/M	107	51	90	10.9	24.46
	30 KG/M	107.95	60.33	107.95	12.3	30.1
Heavy Rail	38 KG/M	134	68	114	13	38.733
	43 KG/M	140	70	114	14.5	44.653
	45 KG/M	145	67	126	14.5	45.546
	50 KG/M	152	70	132	15.5	51.514
	60 KG/M	176	73	150	16.5	60.64
Crane Rail	QU 70	120	70	120	28	52.8
	QU 80	130	80	130	32	63.69
	QU 100	150	100	150	38	88.96
	QU 120	170	120	170	44	118.1

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