Rail

Rails:

• The rails on the track can be considered as steel girders  for the purpose of carrying axle load 
• Rails transfer axel load to the subgrade through sleepers and ballast 
• Rails convert the moving wheel loads of train into point load , which acts on the sleepers. 
• Rails are made up of high carbon steel , to resist wear and tear 
• On point and crossing rails of medium carbon and high manganese steel is used 
• In India rails are manufactured by open hearth or doplex process

REQUIREMENT OF RAILS: 

•  Vertical stiffeners should be high enough to transmit the vertical load, for that height of the rail should be adequate.
• Rails should be capable of withstanding lateral forces, large width of head and foot will result into larger lateral stiffness
• To allow adequate margin of vertical wear, head of the rail must be sufficiently deep , max wear of head allowed is 10 mm 
• Minimum tensile strength of rail should be 72 kg / m2 
• In India rails are tested by falling weight test or tup test