New experimental approach for studying residual stresses in rails

The distribution of residual stresses in the head of a rail produced by rolling cycles is investigated by dissection and non-dissection methods. In the dissection method, small grid elements are formed on the surface of the rail slice by slot cutting. The residual stresses are relieved by the cutting process, In the non-dissection method, residual stresses are relieved by an elevated temperature. The relieved residual deformations are detected by moire interferometry for both methods. The results obtained by both methods are compared and the non-dissection method is recommended.