Rails R 65: purpose, description, dimensions

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

R 65 rails are the basis of the Russian railway network - linear structures of an I-beam cross-section, which serve to absorb loads from rolling stock, their elastic "processing" and subsequent transfer to a support - sleepers. The characteristics of these "steel beams" are regulated by GOST R 8161-75. It establishes the design and dimensions of hardened and non-hardened rails and rail strips of type P65.

Rails R 65

Any rails are designed to solve several problems. First, they perceive and transmit the train load. This is necessary to maintain the durability of both the subgrade and the wheels. Secondly, they set the direction of movement of the rolling stock. And finally, they create a platform with the least resistance for the wheels to roll. The contact surface of the working elements is several centimeters (3-5 depending on the track class).

The scope of the presented linear structures is quite extensive. Thus, R 65 rails, as well as R50, R75, are used for laying link and jointless broad gauge track. They are also used in the creation of turnouts. In the latter case, linear products with a modified profile (PK65) are used.

Rail elements

P65 rails, like any other types, cannot be called an ordinary I-beam.

Specialists distinguish several conditional parts in its design:

1. Head - its shape ensures reliable grip of the wheel of the rolling stock with the rail itself.
2. Neck - resists bending loads and also transfers them to the support of the superstructure of the track.
3. Sole - ensures the stability of the entire linear structure, distributes stresses over the entire surface of the sleeper. It consists of a right pen and a left pen.

In addition, two areas are distinguished within the rail, located on the left and right sides of the neck and occupying the space from the lower edge of the head to the middle part of the sole. These are the so-called left and right sinuses. They contain wedge-shaped pads that fasten the R 65 rails to each other in some sections of the track.

P65 rail dimensions

Few people wondered why the R 65 rail has such a shape. Meanwhile, each curvature radius, flat area and slopes were specially selected empirically or by calculations in order to create optimal conditions for interaction with the rolling stock.

Most of us know what the R rail has65 weight equal to 65 kg, which is actually incorrect. The exact weight of a running meter is 64.72 kg. Other parameters have the following meaning:

• head radius (R500) provides load centering, that is, it forces the longitudinal axis of the wheel to coincide with the axis of the rail;
• R80 creates a smooth transition to R15 which creates tight contact with the wheel flange;
• 1:20 head slope corresponds to the wheel flange slope, which is necessary to mate with the wheel flange;
• with radius R3 round off the sharp edge of the head, which is done to eliminate stress concentrators;
• transitional radii R15 and R370 are introduced in order to ensure a smooth mating of the head with the neck and eliminate areas with dangerous stresses;
• transitional radius R400 at the base of the neck is needed to smoothly transfer the load to the sole;
• The slopes of the upper edge of the sole and the lower part of the head are the same (1:4), which is necessary for the installation of wedge-shaped overlays, which simultaneously act as a spacer.

R 65 rail is subjected to colossal loads every day. Its weight in Russian industry cannot be underestimated. But if not for the special design, it would not have been able to cope with its task, it would quickly deform and need to be replaced.

Rail steel

All railway rails (P 65, PK65, P75, P50) are made exclusively from rail steel. It is characterized by high bending strength, hardness and wear resistance, which is achieved by a high carbon content (0.82%) and the addition of alloying additives -manganese, vanadium, zirconium, silicon, titanium.

M76BT is the main steel grade used in the production of rail lashes. Depending on the method of production, it can be the first (smelted exclusively in open-hearth furnaces) or the second group. Cast or rolled "blank" goes through a complex multi-stage heat treatment. In many respects, this is why the price of the R 65 rail is at such a high level - from 50 thousand rubles per ton.