BS EN 13146‑1:2019

BSI Standards Publication

Railway applications - Track - Test

methods for fastening systems

Part 1: Determination of longitudinal rail restraint

BS EN 13146‑1:2019 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 13146‑1:2019. It
supersedes BS EN 13146‑1:2012+A1:2014, which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical
Committee RAE/2, Railway Applications - Track.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on
request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions
of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
© The British Standards Institution 2019
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2019
ISBN 978 0 580 90734 0
ICS 93.100; 45.080
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 28 February 2019.

Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication

Date Text affected
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 13146‑1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM January 2019

ICS 93.100 Supersedes EN 13146‑1:2012+A1:2014

English Version

Railway applications - Track - Test methods for fastening

systems - Part 1: Determination of longitudinal
rail restraint
Applications ferroviaires - Voie - Méthodes Bahnanwendungen - Oberbau - Prüfverfahren für
d'essai pour les systèmes de fixation - Schienenbefestigungssysteme - Teil 1: Ermittlung
Partie 1 : Détermination de la résistance des Durchschubwiderstandes in Längsrichtung
longitudinale au glissement

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 19 November 2018.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving
this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical
references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre
or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language
made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2019 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 13146‑1:2019: E
worldwide for CEN national Members
BS EN 13146‑1:2019
EN 13146‑1:2019 (E)

Contents Page

European foreword............................................................................................................................................................................................................. iii

Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
2 Normative references....................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
3 Terms, definitions and symbols............................................................................................................................................................. 6
3.1 Terms and definitions........................................................................................................................................................................ 6
3.2 Symbols.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
4 Principle......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
5 Apparatus...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
5.1 Rail 7
5.2 Actuator.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
5.3 Displacement measuring instruments................................................................................................................................ 7
5.3.1 Contacting displacement measuring instruments............................................................................... 7
5.3.2 Non-contacting displacement measuring instruments................................................................... 7
5.4 Force measuring instruments..................................................................................................................................................... 7
5.5 Verification of calibration............................................................................................................................................................... 7
6 Test specimens........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
6.1 Rail support................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
6.2 Fastening....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
7 Procedure..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
7.1 Test temperature.................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
7.2 Preparation for test.............................................................................................................................................................................. 8
7.3 Loading........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
7.3.1 Longitudinal rail restraint........................................................................................................................................ 9
7.3.2 Longitudinal stiffness................................................................................................................................................ 10
7.3.3 Parameters for Track-Bridge Interaction calculations.................................................................. 10
7.4 Calculation................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
7.4.1 Longitudinal rail restraint..................................................................................................................................... 11
7.4.2 Longitudinal stiffness................................................................................................................................................ 11
7.4.3 Parameters for Track-Bridge Interaction calculations.................................................................. 11
7.5 Visual inspection................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
8 Test report................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

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EN 13146‑1:2019 (E)

European foreword
This document (EN 13146‑1:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 256 “Railway
applications”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by month year of July 2019, and conflicting national
standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by month year of July 2019.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 13146‑1:2012+A1:2014.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association.
In this European Standard, the test procedure has been adapted to be applicable to embedded rail as
well as surface mounted rail. For embedded rail with an adhesive fastening system the test result is
expressed as longitudinal stiffness.
Compared with EN 13146‑1:2012+A1:2014, the following changes have been made:
a) update of the European foreword;
b) extension of the scope to embedded rails;
c) adaptation of normative references;
d) adaptation of the terms;
e) considers the requirements of EN 13146-9 for static and dynamic stiffnesses;
f) Clause 7 revised and calculation of the interaction between superstructures newly added;
g) editorially revised.
This European Standard is one of the series EN 13146 “Railway applications – Track – Test methods for
fastening systems” which consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Determination of longitudinal rail restraint;
— Part 2: Determination of torsional resistance;
— Part 3: Determination of attenuation of impact loads;
— Part 4: Effect of repeated loading;
— Part 5: Determination of electrical resistance;
— Part 6: Effect of severe environmental conditions;
— Part 7: Determination of clamping force and uplift stiffness;
— Part 8: In service testing;
— Part 9: Determination of stiffness;
— Part 10: Proof load test for pull-out resistance.
These support the requirements in the series EN 13481 “Railway applications – Track – Performance
requirements for fastening systems”.

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According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
the United Kingdom.

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Introduction
For fastening systems that hold the rail mechanically (whether at discrete intervals or continuously)
the test procedure measures the longitudinal rail restraint. For an embedded rail with an adhesive
fastening system the test procedure measures the longitudinal stiffness.

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1 Scope
This document specifies the laboratory test procedure to determine:
a) the maximum longitudinal force that can be applied to a rail, secured to a sleeper, bearer or element
of slab track by a rail fastening assembly, without non-elastic displacement of the rail occurring, or
the longitudinal stiffness at a specified longitudinal displacement of a specimen of embedded rail
with an adhesive fastening system, and, for any type of fastening,
b) the shear displacement and slip data required for track-bridge interaction calculations.

2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 13146‑9, Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 9: Determination
of stiffness
EN 13481‑1:2012, Railway applications — Track — Performance requirements for fastening systems —
Part 1: Definitions
EN ISO 7500‑1:2018, Metallic materials — Calibration and verification of static uniaxial testing
machines — Part 1: Tension/compression testing machines — Calibration and verification of the force-
measuring system (ISO 7500‑1:2018)
EN ISO 9513:2012, Metallic materials — Calibration of extensometer systems used in uniaxial testing
(ISO 9513:2012)

3 Terms, definitions and symbols

3.1 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 13481‑1:2012 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp

3.2 Symbols
For the purposes of this document, the following symbols apply.

D1 maximum longitudinal displacement of rail during each cycle of loading, in mm;

D2 residual longitudinal displacement of rail after removal of load, in mm;

D3 elastic longitudinal displacement of rail prior to slip, in mm;

Dr maximum longitudinal displacement of embedded rail with adhesive fastening system, in mm;

F maximum axial load on the rail without non-elastic displacement occurring, in kN;

Fmax axial load at which gross slip occurs, in kN;

kL longitudinal stiffness of embedded rail with adhesive fastening system, in kN/mm per m;

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LT sample length of embedded rail, in m.

4 Principle
A longitudinal load is applied by pulling a rail fixed to a sleeper, bearer or element of slab track by one or
two rail fastening assemblies or by an embedded rail fastening system whilst the support is restrained.
Movement of the rail relative to the support is recorded and the load removed when the rail slips or the
specified longitudinal displacement occurs.
Longitudinal rail restraint or longitudinal stiffness are obtained from a plot of load versus displacement.

5 Apparatus

5.1 Rail
A short length of rail of the section for which the fastening system under test has been designed. The
rail shall be unlaminated and neither have loose rust on the surface nor be polished on the foot by
repeated testing.
For surface mounted rail, the length of rail used for testing shall be approximately 0,5 m. For embedded
rail, the rail is part of the test specimen and its length is specified in 6.1.

5.2 Actuator
Actuator capable of applying a tensile force of at least 40 kN to the longitudinal axis of the rail as shown
in Figure 1.

5.3 Displacement measuring instruments

5.3.1 Contacting displacement measuring instruments

If contacting displacement measuring instruments are used they shall comply with EN ISO 9513:2012,
Table 2, class 2.

5.3.2 Non-contacting displacement measuring instruments

If non-contacting displacement measuring instruments are used they shall be calibrated to ensure that
they are capable of measuring the longitudinal displacement of the rail within ±0,02 mm.

5.4 Force measuring instruments

Instruments conforming to EN ISO 7500‑1:2018, class 1 over the required range of force.

5.5 Verification of calibration

The calibration of actuators and measuring instruments shall be verified using equipment having
certified traceability to European or International Standards using the International System
of Units (SI).

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6 Test specimens

6.1 Rail support

A sleeper, half sleeper, bearer or element of slab track, incorporating embedded rail where appropriate,
complete with cast-in fastening components or holes, and rail seats, as made without modification
for this test.
For fastening systems incorporating continuous support of surface mounted rail, the test shall be
performed using a length of pad equal in length to the design spacing of the fastening along the rail. The
piece of rail used for the test shall be at least as long as the piece of pad.
For surface mounted fastening systems which have low frequency dynamic stiffness ≤ 50 MN/m, when
tested in accordance with EN 13146‑9, it may be necessary to carry out the test over two rail seats to
provide greater stability.
For mechanically fastened embedded rail, the length of rail shall be the typical spacing of fastenings.
For adhesively fastened embedded rail, the length of the rail shall be 0,5 m to 0,85 m.

6.2 Fastening
The complete fastening assembly includes all components and baseplate, where appropriate.

7 Procedure

7.1 Test temperature

The test shall be carried out in a room or enclosure maintained at (23 ± 5) °C. All components used in
the test shall be kept at this temperature for no less than 4 h prior to the commencement of the test.

7.2 Preparation for test

If not already in place, fix the short length of rail to one or two rail seats as necessary using the fastening
components as assembled in track. Place the rail support on a rigid base and restrict any movement
parallel to the rail as shown in Figure 1.

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Key
1 rail as described in 5.1
2 fastening assembly including rail pad
3 load-displacement measuring and recording instruments
4 rail support as described in 6.1
5 rigid support and restraint to prevent rotation of the rail support

NOTE For fastenings which hold the rail foot, the force application should be at the rail foot and for fastenings
which hold the rail web the force should be applied at the rail centroid.

Figure 1 — Test arrangement

7.3 Loading

7.3.1 Longitudinal rail restraint

Apply a tensile load at a constant rate of (10 ± 5) kN/min to one end of the rail. From the start of this
loading cycle, automatically measure the load and longitudinal displacement of the rail relative to
the sleeper.
When the rail slips in the fastening assembly or if the load is more than four times the performance
requirement, rapidly reduce the load to zero and continue measuring the rail displacement for two
minutes. Without removing or adjusting the fastening assembly in any way repeat the above cycle a
further three times with three minute intervals in the unloaded condition between each cycle. Plot the
applied load against rail displacement for each cycle as shown in Figure 2. If the rail displacement is
jerky, plot a median, smooth curve.
If D2 ≤ 0,5 mm and the force does not exceed four times the performance requirement, the loading cycle
is invalid and shall be repeated.

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Key
1 longitudinal force (kN)
2 displacement (mm)

Figure 2 — Load-displacement diagram for one loading cycle

7.3.2 Longitudinal stiffness

For embedded rails with an adhesive fastening system, follow the loading and measuring procedure
in 7.3.1 and continue until D3 reaches the required value, Dr. Then rapidly reduce the load to zero and
continue measuring the rail displacement for two minutes. Repeat the loading a further three times
with three minute intervals in the unloaded condition between each cycle.

7.3.3 Parameters for Track-Bridge Interaction calculations

If data are required for track-structure interaction calculations such as those for long bridges, the load
should be applied for a fifth time, but on this occasion the load should be increased until there is gross
slip of the rail through the fastening system. Then plot a curve of applied load against rail displacement
and record the maximum load applied, Fmax (kN).
This procedure is not applicable to adhesively fastened embedded rails.

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7.4 Calculation

7.4.1 Longitudinal rail restraint

For each load-displacement diagram determine D1 and D2, then calculate D3 from Formula (1).
D3 = D1 – D2 (1)

From each curve determine the value of F as the force required to produce an initial elastic displacement
of D3. Discard the first value of F and from the remaining three values calculate the mean and report
as the longitudinal rail restraint in kN. If D3 ≤ 0,5 mm take the value of F for a displacement of 0,5 mm.
If the loading cycles are stopped when the force is greater than or equal to four times the specified
value, F is the maximum value tested.

7.4.2 Longitudinal stiffness

For embedded rail with an adhesive fastening system, calculate the longitudinal stiffness for each cycle
from Formula (2).

(2)

Then calculate the mean longitudinal stiffness.

7.4.3 Parameters for Track-Bridge Interaction calculations

When there is a requirement to make the test results available for detailed Track-Bridge Interaction
calculations the full load deflection curve for the fifth (final) loading shall be presented.
When there is a requirement to make the test results available for simplified Track-Bridge Interaction
calculations a bi-linear approximation to the fifth (final) loading shall be presented in which the
maximum elastic displacement, u0, is given by Formula (3).

(3)

NOTE Using the terminology in EN 1991‑2:2003, 6.5.4, this value of u0 may be used directly. The longitudinal
plastic shear resistance of track, represented by k in that standard, can be calculated using Formula (4):

(4)

where

s is the support spacing for discrete fastening systems; or

is equal to LT for mechanical or adhesive continuous fastening systems;

k is expressed as shear force per unit length of track (i.e. two rails) as defined in EN 1991‑2.

7.5 Visual inspection

The test specimen shall be inspected before and after testing and any changes recorded.

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8 Test report
The test report shall include at least the following information:
a) number, name and date of issue of this European Standard;
b) name and address of laboratory performing the test;
c) date test performed;
d) name, designation and description of fastening assembly, including individual components, and
sleeper, bearer or element of slab track tested;
e) origin of test specimens;
f) rail section used in test;
g) mean longitudinal rail restraint or (in the case of adhesively bonded systems) mean
longitudinal stiffness;
h) mean axial load at which gross slip occurs;
i) curve of load against displacement;
j) (if required) values of Fmax and u0 for track-bridge interaction calculations;
k) changes observed by visual inspection.

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