In the field of railway track laying, 38KG heavy rails are important basic materials, and their specifications play a key role in track performance and safety.
In terms of external dimensions, 38KG heavy rails have clear standards. The rail height is 134mm. This height design can not only ensure that the rails have sufficient vertical bearing capacity to withstand the huge weight of the train, but also can be well adapted to other track components such as the fastener system. The bottom width is 114mm. The wider bottom helps to distribute the train load more evenly to the sleepers and the lower foundation structure, enhancing the overall stability of the track. The head width is 68mm, and the rail head is in direct contact with the train wheels. This width design takes into account the contact area and wear uniformity of the wheels. The waist thickness is 13mm. As the key part connecting the rail head and the rail bottom, this thickness ensures that the rail will not break due to insufficient strength when subjected to complex stresses.
| Rail Type | SIZE(mm) | theoretical weight | |||||||||
| height | bottom width | head width | waist depth | ||||||||
| Light rail | 8KG | 65 | 54 | 25 | 7 | 8.42 | |||||
| 9KG | 63.5 | 63.5 | 32.1 | 5.9 | 8.94 | ||||||
| 12KG | 69.85 | 69.85 | 38.1 | 7.54 | 12.2 | ||||||
| 15KG | 79.37 | 79.37 | 42.86 | 8.33 | 15.2 | ||||||
| 18KG | 90 | 90 | 40 | 10 | 18.06 | ||||||
| 22KG | 93.66 | 93.66 | 50.8 | 10.72 | 22.3 | ||||||
| 24KG | 107 | 90 | 51 | 10.9 | 24.46 | ||||||
| 30KG | 107.95 | 109.95 | 60.33 | 12.3 | 30.1 | ||||||
| Heavy rail | 38KG | 134 | 114 | 68 | 13 | 38.733 | |||||
| 43KG | 140 | 114 | 70 | 14.5 | 44.653 | ||||||
| 45KG | 145 | 126 | 67 | 14.5 | 45.546 | ||||||
| 50KG | 152 | 132 | 70 | 15.5 | 51.514 | ||||||
| 60KG | 176 | 150 | 73 | 16.5 | 60.64 | ||||||
In terms of weight, the nominal weight of 38KG heavy rail is 38.733kg per meter. This weight is not determined arbitrarily, but takes into account multiple factors such as the rail's load-bearing requirements, line type, and construction cost. For example, in some railway branches with relatively small traffic volume and moderate speed requirements, the weight of 38KG heavy rail can meet daily operation needs without causing excessive construction costs due to excessive weight.
There are also corresponding specifications for the length of rails, and the standard lengths are usually 12.5m and 25m. Rails of different lengths are suitable for different laying scenarios. The shorter 12.5m rails are more flexible to install in some areas with more curves and complex lines; while the 25m long rails are more suitable for straight sections, which can reduce the number of rail joints, reduce vibration and impact during train operation, and improve driving stability.
In addition, the material of 38KG heavy rails is mostly U71Mn, etc. This type of material has the characteristics of high strength, high toughness and good wear resistance. High strength enables it to withstand the huge pressure brought by train operation, high toughness can prevent brittle fracture of rails when subjected to impact loads, and good wear resistance prolongs the service life of rails, reduces maintenance frequency, and ensures long-term stable operation of railways.
Understanding these specific specifications of 38KG heavy rails is of great significance for the planning, design, construction and later maintenance of railway projects, and can help build a safe and efficient railway track system.