ASTM A1-00(2018)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:A1 −00 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Specification for
Carbon Steel Tee Rails
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA1; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2.2 American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of
Way Association (AREMA) Manual for Railway Engineering:
1.1 This specification covers carbon steel tee rails of nomi-
3,4
Specifications for Steel RailsChapter 4, Part 2
nalweightsof60lb/yd(29.8kg/m)andoverforuseinrailway
track, including export and industrial applications.
3. Ordering Information
1.2 SupplementaryrequirementsS1andS2shallapplyonly
3.1 Ordersforrailsunderthisspecificationshallincludethe
when specified by the purchaser in the order.
following information:
3.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1.2 Type of rail desired.
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
3.1.3 Quantity (tons or pieces as appropriate).
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
3.1.4 Full identification of section with dimensional
and are not considered standard.
drawing, if required.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.5 Arrangement of drilled bolt holes, if any, with dimen-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
sional drawing, if required.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1.6 Quantity of right-hand and left-hand (Note 1) drilled
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
rails, drilled both-end rails, and undrilled (blank) rails desired.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.7 Supplementary requirements that shall apply (see S1
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and S2).
3.1.8 Dispositionofvariousclassificationsofrails(see8.3.6
2. Referenced Documents
and 8.3.7).
2.1 ASTM Standards:
NOTE 1—The right-hand or left-hand end of the rail is determined by
A29/A29MSpecificationforGeneralRequirementsforSteel
facing the side of the rail on which the brand (raised characters) appears.
Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought
4. Materials and Manufacture
A700Guide for Packaging, Marking, and Loading Methods
for Steel Products for Shipment
4.1 Rail Types—Rails shall be furnished as-rolled (standard
E10Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
and alloy), head hardened (on-line or off-line processes), or
E127Practice for Fabrication and Control of Aluminum
fullyheattreatedasagreeduponbetweenthepurchaserandthe
Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks
manufacturer.
E428Practice for Fabrication and Control of Metal, Other
4.2 Melting Practice—Thesteelshallbemadebyanyofthe
than Aluminum, Reference Blocks Used in Ultrasonic
following processes: basic-oxygen or electric-furnace.
Testing
4.2.1 The steel shall be cast by a continuous process, in
hot-topped ingots, or by other methods agreed upon between
the purchaser and the manufacturer.
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
4.3 Discard—Sufficient discard shall be taken from the
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.01 on Steel Rails and Accessories.
bloom or ingot to ensure freedom from injurious segregation
Current edition approved March 1, 2018. Published March 2018. Originally
and pipe.
approved in 1901. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as A1–00 (2010). DOI:
10.1520/A0001-00R18.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Association (AREMA), 4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 130, Lanham, MD 20706,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
https://www.arema.org.
the ASTM website.
Adapted from AREMA Specifications for Steel Rails (see 2.2).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
A1−00 (2018)
4.4 Hydrogen Elimination: 5. Chemical Composition
4.4.1 Applicability:
5.1 The chemical composition of the standard, head
4.4.1.1 Rails 60 through 70 lb/yd (29.8 through 34.8 kg/m) hardened, and fully heat treated rail steel, determined as
are not subject to treatment for hydrogen elimination. prescribedin5.2.1,shallbewithinthelimitsshowninTable1.
The chemical composition of alloy rail will be subject to
4.4.1.2 Rails over 70 through 84 lb/yd (over 34.8 through
agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer.
41.7 kg/m) may be subjected to treatment for hydrogen
5.1.1 When ladle tests are not available, finished material
elimination at the option of the manufacturer.
representing the heat may be product tested. The product
4.4.1.3 Rails over 84 lb/yd (41.7 kg/m) shall be processed
analysis allowance beyond the limits of the specified ladle
by methods that prevent the formation of shatter cracks as
analysis shall be within the limits for product analyses speci-
agreed upon between the purchaser and the manufacturer.
fied in Table 2.
4.4.2 Rail heats shall be tested for hydrogen content using
5.2 Heat or Cast Analysis:
either a sampling/analytical method or a direct measurement
5.2.1 Separate analysis shall be made from test samples
methodoftheliquidsteel.Thetestingshallbeperformedeither
representing one of the first three and one of the last three
during the continuous casting process or during ingot teeming.
ingots or continuously cast blooms preferably taken during the
Hydrogencontentshallberecordedandavailableforreviewor
pouring of the heat. Determinations may be made chemically
reporting at the request of the purchaser. The producer shall
or spectrographically. Any portion of the heat meeting the
define the method used to determine hydrogen content, which
chemicalanalysisrequirementsofTable1maybeapplied.The
of the following methods are used for hydrogen removal, and
analysis, most representative of the heat (clear of the transition
present evidence of applicable procedures used to control the
zone for continuous cast steel), shall be recorded as the official
final rail hydrogen:
analysis, but the purchaser shall have access to all chemical
4.4.2.1 Vacuum degassing.
analysisdeterminations.Additionally,anymaterialmeetingthe
4.4.2.2 Bloom control cooling.
product analysis limits shown in Table 2 may be applied after
4.4.2.3 Rail control cooling.
testing such material in accordance with Specification A29/
4.4.3 Rail Control-Cooling Procedure (AREMA Specifica- A29M.
5.2.2 Upon request by the purchaser, samples shall be
tions for Steel Rails)—Rails shall be control-cooled in accor-
furnished to verify the analysis as determined in 5.2.1.
dance with the following procedure, except when produced
from vacuum degassed steel or control-cooled blooms, in
6. Interior Condition
whichcasetherailsmaybeair-cooled,and4.4.3.1–4.4.3.5are
not applicable. 6.1 Forbothingotsteelandcontinuouslycaststeel,between
macroetch testing shall be performed as agreed upon between
4.4.3.1 All rails shall be cooled on the hot beds or runways
the purchaser and the manufacturer.
until full transformation is accomplished and then charged
immediately into the containers. In no case should the rail be
6.2 Macroetch Testing—Rail soundness shall be evaluated
charged at a temperature below 725°F (385°C).
by macroetching in a hot acid solution.
6.2.1 Sample Location and Frequency:
4.4.3.2 Thetemperatureoftherailsbeforechargingshallbe
6.2.1.1 Ingot Steel—Atest piece representing the top end of
determined with a reliable calibrated pyrometer at the top of
the top rail from one of the first three, middle three, and last
the rail head at least 12 in. (305 mm) from the end.
three ingots of each heat shall be macroetched.
4.4.3.3 The cover shall be placed on the container immedi-
6.2.1.2 Continuous Cast Steel—A test piece shall be mac-
ately after completion of the charge and shall remain in place
roetched representing a rail from each strand from the begin-
for at least 10 h. After removal or raising of the lid of the
ning of each sequence and whenever a new ladle is begun,
container, no rail shall be removed until the top layer of rails
which is the point representative of the lowest level in the
has fallen to 300°F (149°C) or lower.
tundish (that is, the point of lowest ferrostatic pressure). One
4.4.3.4 The temperature between an outside rail and the
adjacent rail in the bottom tier of the container at a point not
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements—Heat Analysis
less than 12 in. (305 mm) nor more than 36 in. (915 mm) from
the rail end shall be recorded. This temperature shall be the Nominal Weight, lb/yd (kg/m)
60 to 84 85 to 114
control for judging rate of cooling.
Element
(29.8 to (42.2 to
(57.0)
4.4.3.5 The container shall be so protected and insulated
41.7), 56.6),
and over
that the control temperature shall not drop below 300°F incl incl
Carbon 0.55 to 0.68 0.70 to 0.80 0.74 to 0.84
(149°C) in 7 h for rails 100 lb/yd (49.7 kg/m) in weight or
A
Manganese 0.60 to 0.90 0.70 to 1.00 0.80 to 1.10
heavier, from the time that the bottom tier is placed in the
Phosphorus, max 0.040 0.035 0.035
container, and in 5 h for rails of less than 100 lb/yd in weight.
Sulfur, max 0.050 0.040 0.040
Silicon 0.10 to 0.50 0.10 to 0.50 0.10 to 0.50
If this cooling requirement is not met, the rails shall be
A
considered control-cooled, provided that the temperature at a The upper manganese limit may be extended to 1.25 % by the manufacturer to
meet the Brinell hardness specification. When manganese exceeds 1.10 %, the
location not less than 12 in. (305 mm) from the end of a rail at
residual alloy contents will be held to 0.25 % maximum nickel; 0.25 % maximum
approximatelythecenterofthemiddletierdoesnotdropbelow
chromium; 0.10 % maximum molybdenum; and 0.03 % maximum vanadium.
300°F in less than 15 h.
A1−00 (2018)
TABLE 2 Product Analysis Allowance Beyond Limits of Specified
of hardness.Alternately, the test may be made on the prepared
Chemical Analysis
transverse ground/milled sample ⁄8 in. from the top rail
Percent Under Percent Over
surface.
Minimum Limit Maximum Limit
7.3 The test shall otherwise be conducted in accordance
Carbon 0.04 0.04
Manganese 0.06 0.06 with Test Method E10.
Phosphorus . . . 0.008
7.4 If any test result fails to meet the specifications, two
Sulfur . . . 0.008
A
Silicon 0.02 0.02
additional checks shall be made on the same piece. If both
A
Continuously cast allowances shall be 0.05 % over maximum limit for silicon.
checks meet the specified hardness, the heat or heat treatment
lot meets the hardness requirement. If either of the additional
checks fails, two additional rails in the heat or lot shall be
TABLE 3 Hardness Requirements of Standard Carbon Rails
checked.Bothofthesechecksmustbesatisfactoryfortheheat
Nominal Weight, lb/yd (kg/m)
or lot to be accepted. If any one of these two checks fails,
60 to 84 85 to 114
115 (57.0) individual rails may be tested for acceptance.
(29.8 to 41.7), (42.2 to 56.6),
and over
incl incl
7.5 If the results for off-line head hardened rails and fully
Brinell Hardness, min 201 285 300
heat treated rails fail to meet the requirements of 7.1, the rails
may be retreated at the option of the manufacturer, and such
rails shall be retested in accordance with 7.2 and 7.3.
TABLE 4 Hardness Requirements of High-Strength Rails
(See notes)
8. Permissible Variations of Dimension, Weight, and
NOTE 1—Hardness specified in Table 4 pertain to the head area only.
Other Physical Attributes
NOTE 2—A fully pearlitic microstructure shall be maintained in the
8.1 Section:
head.
8.1.1 The section of the rail shall conform to the design
NOTE3—If410HBisexceeded,themicrostructurethroughoutthehead
specified by the purchaser.
shall be examined at 100× or higher for confirmation of a fully pearlitic
8.1.2 A variation of 0.015 in. (0.38 mm) less or 0.040 in.
microstructure in the head.
(1.02 mm) greater than the specified height will be permitted
NOTE 4—No untempered martensite shall be present within the rail.
measured at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) from each end.
Nominal Weight, lb/yd (kg/m)
8.1.3 A variation of 0.030 in. (0.76 mm) less or 0.030 in.
60 to 84 85 to 114
115 (57.0)
greater than the specified rail head width will be permitted
(29.8 to 41.7), (42.2 to 56.6),
and over
incl incl
measured at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) from each end.
Brinell Hardness 277 to 341 321, min 341, min
8.1.4 Avariationof0.050in.(1.27mm)inthetotalwidthof
the base will be permitted.
8.1.5 No variation will be allowed in dimensions affecting
the fit of the joint bars, except that the fishing template
approved by the purchaser may stand out laterally not more
additional sample from the end of each strand of the last heat
than 0.060 in. (1.5 mm) when measured within the 18-in.
in the sequence shall also be tested. A new tundish is
(460-mm) end locations.
considered to be the beginning of a new sequence.
8.1.6 Avariation of 0.060 in. (1.5 mm) in the asymmetry of
6.2.2 If any test specimen does not conform to the accept-
the head with respect to the base will be permitted.
able macroetch pictorial standards agreed upon between the
8.1.7 A variation of 0.020 in. (0.51 mm) less or 0.040 in.
purchaser and the manufacturer, further samples shall be taken
(1.02 mm) greater than the specified thickness of web will be
from the same strand or ingot. For continuously cast steel, two
permitted.
retestsshallbetakenonefromeachsideoftheoriginalsample
8.1.8 Verification of tolerances shall be made using appro-
at positions decided by the manufacturer, and the material
priate gages as agreed upon between the purchaser and the
between the two retest positions shall be rejected. For ingot
manufacturer.
steel, testing shall progress down the ingot. If any retest fails,
8.2 Length:
testing shall continue until acceptable internal quality is
8.2.1 The standard length of rails shall be 39 ft (11.9 m) or
exhibited.All rails represented by failed tests shall be rejected.
80 ft (24.4 m), or both, when measured at a temperature of
60°F (15°C).
7. Hardness Properties
8.2.2 Up to 9% for 39 ft rail or 15% for 80 ft rail of the
7.1 Rails shall be produced as specified by the purchaser
entire order will be accepted in lengths shorter than the
within the limits found in Table 3 and Table 4,
standard,varyingby1ft(0.3m)asfollows:79,78,77,75,70,
65, 60, 39, 38, 37, 36, 33, 30, 27, and 25 ft.
7.2 The Brinell hardness test shall be performed on a rail, a
pieceofrailatleast6in.(152mm)longcutfromarailofeach 8.2.3 Avariation of ⁄16 in. (11 mm) for 39-ft (11.9-m) rails
heat of steel or heat-treatment lot, or from a ground/milled or ⁄8 in. (22 mm) for 80-ft rails (24.4-m) will be permitted.
transverse sample cut from the 6-in. piece. The test shall be 8.2.4 Length variations other than those specified in 8.2.2
made on the side or top of the rail head after decarburized and 8.2.3 may be established by agreement between the
materialhasbeenremovedtopermitanaccuratedetermination purchaser and the manufacturer.
A1−00 (2018)
8.3 Drilling: inserting a taper or feeler gage between the base and the rail
8.3.1 Circular holes for joint bolts shall be drilled to skid nearest the end. If the gap exceeds 0.090 in. (2.29 mm),
the rail will be rejected. Alternatively, a twist gage may be
conform to the drawings and dimensions furnished by the
purchaser. used,and,iftherailexceeds1.5°in39ft(11.9m),therailwill
be rejected. Rejected rails may be subject to straightening.
8.3.2 Avariation of −0 and + ⁄16 in. (1.6 mm) in the size of
the bolt holes will be permitted.
9. Rework
8.3.3 A variation of ⁄32 in. (0.8 mm) in the location of the
9.1 Railspresentedforinspectionthatdonotconformtothe
holes will be permitted.
requirementsof8.4.1–8.4.8maybereconditionedbythemill.
8.3.4 Fins and burrs at the edges of bolt holes shall be
eliminated. The drilling process shall be controlled to prevent
10. Classification of Rails
mechanical or metallurgical damage to the rail.
10.1 Rails that do not contain surface imperfections in such
8.3.5 When right-hand and left-hand drilling is specified, at
number o
...