Discipline: Engineering (Track) Category: Standard

Welded Track – Definition of

Terms
TMS 07

Applicability
ARTC New South Wales 9 CRIA (NSW CRN) 9

Primary Source
RIC Standard C 2501 version 2.0

Document Status

Version Date Reviewed Prepared by Reviewed by Endorsed Approved

2.0 10 December 2010 Bruce Lord Manager Exec Manager CEO

Standards SS&P 18/12/2010

Amendment Record

Version Date Reviewed Clause Description of Amendment

2.0 10 December 2010 Updated and modified to remove reference to “standard/non-

standard” track. Applicability changed to ARTC NSW and CRN.

© Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited 2010

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Engineering (Track) Standard
TMS 07 Welded Track – Definition of Terms
Contents

Contents
1 General ................................................................................................... 3

2 Definition of Welded Track Terms ........................................................... 3

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Engineering (Track) Standard
TMS 07 Welded Track – Definition of Terms
General

1 General
This Instruction gives the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s approved definitions of welded
track terms and other related commonly used terms used in conjunction with welded track.

2 Definition of Welded Track Terms

Open Ballasted Track Track on formation, or in tunnels or on concrete deck, which is
supported on metal ballast conforming to TDS 11.

Open Top Bridges and All structures which carry the track on transoms.
Openings

Jointed Welded Rail (JWR) Rails which are, individually, longer than 27.4 metres and less than or
equal to 220 metres.

Continuous Welded Rail Rails which are in excess of 220 metres in length.
(CWR)

Loose Rail Rails which are 27.4 metres or less in length.

Neutral Temperature (NT) The temperature at which a rail will be neither in compression nor in
tension (also called the Stress Free Temperature SFT). Rail is to be
adjusted so that this will occur at 35°C (Tolerance +2 - 0 °C).

Rail Temperature The temperature recorded on the shaded side of the rail web.

Tangent Creep The net quantity of rail in excess or deficient of the length set at the
time of establishment of CWR. Tangent creep is measured using creep
marks at not more than 500 metre spacing.

Curve Creep Expressed in terms of equivalent tangent creep, curve creep expresses
the increase or decrease in the length set at the time of establishment
due to the radial movement of curves. Curve creep is measured
relative to track alignment marks.

Theoretical Measurement The anticipated rail temperature predicted by a given set of rail gaps
Temperature for known rail lengths if that rail is to be in correct adjustment (N.T. =
35°C).

Actual Measured Temperature The measured temperature as recorded by Inspection Staff when
measuring rail gaps.

Rail Temperature Error An expression of rail adjustment in degrees Celsius (°C) indicating the
extent of rail adjustment deviation in relation to the standard neutral
temperature (35°C). It is calculated by subtracting the Theoretical
Measured Temperature from the Actual Measured Temperature.

Alignment Index The ratio of Curve Radius (m) to length of the Curve (m).

Tensor Rail tensioning equipment or other pulling devices used for physically
stretching or holding rails at site temperature to produce a stress free
condition at the neutral temperature.

Free Rail A length of rail, with all anchors removed if dogspiked, and/or with all
resilient fastenings removed, and vibrated so that it will be stress free.

Pulling Point The end of a freed rail where tensor is located.

Anchor Point The end of a freed rail where anchorage commences.

Free Welding Welding without correcting rail adjustment.

Field Welding Welding of rails together in the track by any process.

Aluminothermic Welding Field welding by any process using an aluminothermic type reaction. The
Aluminothermic welding processes currently approved for use are listed
in TMP 09.

Rail Gap Dial Calculator Rail Gap Dial Calculator is a round slide rule type calculator using rail
temperature and rail length to give appropriate rail gap for a neutral
temperature of 35°C. For use with CWR adjustment work only.

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Engineering (Track) Standard
TMS 07 Welded Track – Definition of Terms
Definition of Welded Track Terms

Aluminothermic Welding Gap The aluminothermic welding gap is the gap required between the rail
ends to be welded together for the aluminothermic welding process
being used.

e.g. Aluminothermic Welding Process Aluminothermic Welding Gap

SMWF 20mm

SKVF 25mm

Boutet 25mm

Junction Gap 25mm

Wide Gap 65mm

Tension At low rail temperature the rail contracts and joint gaps are fully opened
placing the rail in tension.

Compression When rail temperature is increased the rail expands and there are no
available gaps to allow the rail to freely expand. The force generated
will place the rail in compression.

Misalignment A lateral displacement which occurs when the compression generated

in the rails exceeds the ability of the track structure to hold itself in
correct alignment.

Rail Adjustment The procedure used to place welded rail in a “stress free” state at 35°C
rail temperature.

Stress Free When the rail will neither be in tension or compression. See Neutral
Temperature.

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