A rail pad is inserted in between the rail and baseplate or sleeper. Rail pad is introduced to the railway fastening system because of its resilience or viscoelasticity which can be implemented in the intervention of fatigue cracking of sleepers. The dynamic stress from the wheel or rail impact from both regular and irregular movements is attenuated.
How to test rail elastic pad performance?
Testing rail elastic pad performance involves lab and field methods assessing stiffness, damping, elasticity retention (especially at low temps), fatigue, and aging using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), load-displacement tests, vibration hammering, and thermal/frequency cycling, often following standards like EN13481-2, to ensure vibration dampening, bolt tension, and track stability. Key metrics are elastic recovery (e.g., ≥80% at -40°C), damping ratios, and residual deformation after fatigue, ensuring they prevent loosening and isolate noise/vibration effectively.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Test:
- Elasticity & Recovery: How well it springs back after compression (critical for maintaining bolt tension).
- Stiffness (Spring Rate): Force required for displacement; varies with temperature and frequency.
- Damping: Ability to absorb vibration energy (measured by damping ratio, decay rate).
- Fatigue Life: Performance under millions of load cycles (train passages).
- Temperature & Frequency Dependence: How properties change in extreme heat/cold or different vibration frequencies.
- Aging & Weathering: Resistance to degradation (UV, ozone, water).
What are the parameters of railway pads made of different materials?
Railway pad parameters vary by material (like Rubber, HDPE, EVA), focusing on stiffness, hardness (Shore A), tensile strength, elongation, density, and electrical resistance to manage vibration, protect tracks, and ensure insulation, with rubbers offering flexibility (lower stiffness/higher elongation) and engineering plastics (HDPE/EVA) providing higher stiffness for better geometry, though requiring specific testing for dynamic performance under temperature, frequency, and load.
| HDPE Rail Pad | |||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Technical Requirement | Value |
| Density | g/cm3 | 0.95-0.98 | 0.95 |
| Tensile Strength | Mpa | ≥19 | 19 |
| Elongation | % | >80 | 150 |
| Melting Point | ℃ | 170-190 | 190 |
| Insulation Resistance | Ω | ≥1×1010 | 3.5 ×1010 |
| Hardness | A | ≥98 | 98(A) |
| EVA: Polyethylene 80%, Vinyl Acetate 20%. | |||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Technical Requirement | Value |
| Density | g/cm3 | 0.95-0.98 | 0.95 |
| Tensile Strength | Mpa | ≥15 | 16 |
| Elongation | % | >500 | 550 |
| Melting Point | ℃ | 170-190 | 170 |
| Insulation Resistance | Ω | ≥1×1010 | 5.0 ×1010 |
| Hardness | A | ≥90 | 92(A) |
| Rubber Rail Pad | ||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Value |
| Stiffness | KN | 90-130 |
| Hardness Shore A | ℃ | 72-80 degree |
| Electronic Resistance | Ω | ≥ 106 |
| Tensile Strength before Aging | Mpa | ≥12.5 |
| Elongation before Aging | % | ≥250 |
GNEE RAIL provides exceptional elastic rail pads of various types for high-speed railways, normal-speed railways, and cranes. Especially the rail pads made of rubber, EVA, TPEE, and HDPE are very popular with customers. Our railway rubber pads fit the rails such as UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs, BS100lbs, etc. We have more than 130set of machines in our production lines which can reach an annual production capacity of up to 2000, 000 pieces of rail pads. We offer a wide range of rail pads and other track materials at competitive prices.