Rail Fishplate Fastening System
The Railway Fishplate (also known as joint bar or splice bar) is a mechanical connector that allows jointed rails to behave as a continuous beam under load by redistributing stresses across bolted connections rather than concentrating them at rail ends . Manufactured from carbon steel grades including 45#, 50#, and 55# with tensile strength ranging from 375 MPa (Q235) to 785 MPa (55#), these plates feature tapered top and bottom surfaces that wedge against the rail head and foot when bolts are tightened .
Technical Specifications:
| Standard | Material Grade | Tensile Strength Rm | Yield Strength | Elongation | Typical Rail Sections | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TB/T2345-2008 (China) | 55# steel | ≥785 MPa | ≥520 MPa | ≥9% | 43, 52, 60, 75 kg | Heavy-haul mainline |
| UIC864-4/8 (Europe) | 40# steel | 550-650 MPa | N/A | ≥18% | UIC54, UIC60 | European networks |
| DIN5902 (Germany) | Q235/Q295 | ≥375 MPa | ≥235 MPa | ≥21% | S30-S49 rails | Light/medium lines |
| BS47-1 (British) | 40# steel | 550-650 MPa | N/A | ≥18% | BS75A-BS113A | UK/Commonwealth |
| AREMA (North America) | 50# steel | 550-650 MPa | N/A | N/A | 115RE-141RE | US railroads |
Installation & Maintenance Perspective:
- Chinese standard 55# steel fishplates (TB/T2345-2008): tensile ≥785 MPa, yield ≥520 MPa, elongation ≥9%, Brinell hardness 227-388 HBW
- UIC standard fishplates (UIC864-4/8) use 40# steel: tensile 550-650 MPa, elongation ≥18%
- DIN standard fishplates (DIN5902) use Q235/Q295: tensile ≥375 MPa, yield ≥235 MPa, elongation ≥21%
- AREMA and BS standard fishplates typically use 50# steel with tensile 550-650 MPa
- Chemical composition control: 45# steel (C 0.42-0.50%, Mn 0.50-0.80%), 50# steel (C 0.47-0.55%, Mn 0.50-0.80%), with strict P/S limits ≤0.035%
Maintenance & Operational Perspective
- Cracks typically initiate near bolt holes where stress concentrates during load cycling, propagating along the fishing surface
- Wear on fishing surfaces creates gaps between plate and rail, allowing excessive movement that batters rail ends
- Substandard materials or improper heat treatment cause cracking within 5-10 years versus 20-30 years for compliant plates
- Loose bolts are the most frequent defect; missing bolts eliminate load paths and overload remaining bolts by 17-25%
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