Bainitic steels for track structure application in the Czech Republic and worldwide

Abstract

Actual trends of worldwide railway transport development are characterized by increasing speed and growth of railway’s axels load. One of many applications for bainitic steel is in railway transport for highly strength and wear resistant rails. Rail steel must be designed to be able to resist plastic deformation, wear, rolling contact fatigue, bending stress and thermal stress during rail welding process and rails resurfacing. It is sensible from the bainitic steels (in the paper) given above that with preservation of bainitic matrix it is possible to achieve wide range of mechanical features. Their values are the main advantage from rails running load point of view. Wear of the top of the rail parts from bainitic materials is lower than parts made from classical pearlitic steels. The same reason leads to their extended running life. The rails welding where it is necessary to achieve values at least comparable with features of basic material is also connected with mechanical features.