Avtomaticheskaya Svarka (Automatic Welding), #11, 2021, pp. 35-39
Investigation of the causes for appearance of defects in welded butt joints of tram rails made by thermit welding
E. Turik1, I.O. Ryabtsev2, M. Lomozik1, K. Krasnovskyi11
1Lucasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Welding, 44-100, Gliwice, 16-18 Bl. Czeslava, Poland. Е-mail: is@is.gliwice.pl
2.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NAS of Ukraine.
11 Kazymyr Malevych Str., 03150, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: office@paton.kiev.ua
The results of investigations of the causes for fatigue fracture of rail butt joints on two new tram tracks, made by thermit
welding by two organizations are presented. Control analysis of the chemical composition and mechanical properties of the rail
material; analysis of the chemical composition of the welds; macroscopic and microscopic investigations of the weld, HAZ and
base metal; and hardness studies in these zones were performed. It was found that pore accumulation and isolated microcracks
in the weld metal are the potential cause for cracking. Violations of the technological process of thermit welding of the tram
tracks were determined, which lead to appearance of these defects. The detected defects are the result of the following factors,
associated with failure to meet the standard requirements on thermit welding of tram tracks and of the system of ensuring the
quality of welding operations, namely violation of welding technology and insuffi cient control at the respective stages of the
production process. 12 Ref., 7 Fig.
Keywords: thermit welding, tram tracks, fatigue cracks, porosity, microcracks, quality assurance system
Received: 16.09.2021
References
1. PN-EN 16771:2017-01 Railway applications – Infrastructure
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2. PN-EN 14730-1:2017-06 Railway applications – Track –
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