Laboratory test standards

for assessment of rail

fastening system
performance
David Rhodes, PhD - Pandrol Ltd., UK
Bob Coats, P.E. - Pandrol USA

Rail Fastening System

Qualification Tests
Europe CEN (EN 13481-2)
Japan Railway Technical Research
Institute (RTRI)
North America AREMA (Ch. 30)
Global Influence (Australia, Africa +
others)

TEST
Longitudinal Rail Restraint
Torsion
Attenuation of impact loads
Repeated Load Test
Electrical Resistance
Severe (Corrosive)
Environments
Wet & Abrasive
Environments
Clamping Force
Insert Pullout
Rail Pad Dynamic Stiffness
Vertical Stiffness
Lateral Restraint
Rail Uplift
Dimensional Assessment

CEN

AREMA Subject
No.

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

2
4
3
5
1

No

Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes

Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

2
3

Electrical Testing

Electrical Test Requirements

CEN: 5 k Resistance minimum
After water spray, corrected for
resistivity
AREMA: 10 k Impedance minimum
After submerged soak

Clamping Force (of rail clips)

Determination of Clamping Force

BS EN 13146-7:2002

Longitudinal Restraint

Determination of Longitudinal Rail

Restraint
BS EN 13146-1:2002

Longitudinal Restraint
CEN: Pull to slip, 7 kN (1,574 lb.)
minimum
AREMA: 2,400 lb. (10.7 kN) without slip

Vertical Stiffness

Determination of Vertical Stiffness

BS EN 13146-4:2002

Determination of Attenuation of Impact loads

EN 13146-3:2002

Torsion

Determination of Torsional Resistance

BS EN 13146-2:2002

Repeated Load Test

Repeated Load Test Purpose

Pre Repeated Load Test Series

Clamping Force
Longitudinal Rail Restraint
Vertical Stiffness

Repeated Load Test

Post Repeated Load Test Series
Clamping Force
Longitudinal Rail Restraint
Vertical Stiffness

Repeated Load Test Track

Data

Goal: Match Repeated Load Test to

Rail Life

Rail Life in Track?

Track MGT per Year

10

50

100

150

250

300

Years to 3 BGT

300

60

30

20

12

10

Years to 1 BGT

100

20

10

6.7

3.3

Laboratory Test
Calculating number of test cycles to correspond to 3
BGT
/
MGT
26200 2860 3150
Car Weight
0
00
00
7150 7875
Axle Load
65500
0
0
3575 3937
Wheel Load
32750
0
5
1787 1968
Railseat Load
16375
5
8(assuming 1/2 wheel load on railseat)
In theory, four 20 kip load cycles equates to one
315,000 lb. car
One MGT equates to

6349cars or

2539 cycle
7s

136RE 20kip Lateral Load

Typical Rail Clip Loads

136RE 20kip Lateral Load

Typical Rail Clip Loads

136RE 20kip Lateral Load

Typical Rail Clip Loads

Instructions for the Cyclic Loading on an Assembly

EN 13146-4:2002

Instructions for the Cyclic Loading on an Assembly

EN 13146-4:2002

Repeated Load
test to RTRI
Standards
(Japan)

AREMA

CEN

Fmax (2)
Kips (kN)

Fmin

Angle

Deg

L/V
Ratio

Fmax
Kips
(kN)

Light Rail

12
(55)
17
(75)
19
(83)

Fmin

Angle

L/V
Ratio

Deg

Gen Freight /
Transit
Heavy Haul

30
(133)
32.5 (145)

-3.3
(15)
1 kip
lateral

20

27.5

0.52

0.80

(5)
1 (5)

38.6
33

0.65

1 (5)

33

0.65

Laboratory test standards

for assessment of rail
fastening system
performance
David Rhodes, PhD - Pandrol Ltd., UK
Bob Coats, P.E. - Pandrol USA