ASTM A1-00

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:A1–00
Standard Specification for
Carbon Steel Tee Rails
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationA1;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.1.3 Quantity (tons or pieces as appropriate).
3.1.4 Full identification of section with dimensional draw-
1.1 This specification covers carbon steel tee rails of nomi-
ing, if required.
nalweightsof60lb/yd(29.8kg/m)andoverforuseinrailway
3.1.5 Arrangement of drilled bolt holes, if any, with dimen-
track, including export and industrial applications.
sional drawing, if required.
1.2 SupplementaryrequirementsS1andS2shallapplyonly
3.1.6 Quantity of right-hand and left-hand (Note 1) drilled
when specified by the purchaser in the order.
rails, drilled both-end rails, and undrilled (blank) rails desired.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1.7 Supplementary requirements that shall apply (see S1
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
and S2).
information only.
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/A29M SpecificationforSteelBars,CarbonandAlloy,
facing the side of the rail on which the brand (raised characters) appears.
Hot-Wrought and Cold-Finished, General Requirements
4. Materials and Manufacture
for
A 700 Practices for Packaging, Marking, and Loading 4.1 Rail Types—Rails shall be furnished as-rolled (standard
Methods for Steel Products for Domestic Shipment and alloy), head hardened (on-line or off-line processes), or
E10 Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materi- fullyheattreatedasagreeduponbetweenthepurchaserandthe
als manufacturer.
E127 Practice for Fabricating and Checking Aluminum 4.2 Melting Practice—Thesteelshallbemadebyanyofthe
Alloy Ultrasonic Standard Reference Blocks following processes: basic-oxygen or electric-furnace.
E428 Practice for Fabrication and Control of Steel Refer- 4.2.1 The steel shall be cast by a continuous process, in
ence Blocks Used in Ultrasonic Inspection hot-topped ingots, or by other methods agreed upon between
2.2 American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of the purchaser and the manufacturer.
Way Association (AREMA) Manual for Railway Engineering: 4.3 Discard—Sufficient discard shall be taken from the
,
Specifications for Steel Rails, Chapter 4, Part 2 bloom or ingot to ensure freedom from injurious segregation
and pipe.
3. Ordering Information
4.4 Hydrogen Elimination:
3.1 Orders for rails under this specification shall include the
4.4.1 Applicability:
following information: 4.4.1.1 Rails 60 through 70 lb/yd (29.8 through 34.8 kg/m)
3.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue.
are not subject to treatment for hydrogen elimination.
3.1.2 Type of rail desired. 4.4.1.2 Rails over 70 through 84 lb/yd (over 34.8 through
41.7 kg/m) may be subjected to treatment for hydrogen
elimination at the option of the manufacturer.
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM CommitteeA01 on Steel,
4.4.1.3 Rails over 84 lb/yd (41.7 kg/m) shall be processed
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
by methods that prevent the formation of shatter cracks as
A01.01 on Steel Rails and Accessories.
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 2000. Published November 2000. Originally agreed upon between the purchaser and the manufacturer.
published as A1–01. Last previous editionA1–92.
4.4.2 Rail heats shall be tested for hydrogen content using
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05.
either a sampling/analytical method or a direct measurement
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
methodoftheliquidsteel.Thetestingshallbeperformedeither
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.03.
AvailablefromAmericanRailwayEngineeringandMaintenanceofWayAssn.,
during the continuous casting process or during ingot teeming.
8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 1125, Landover, MD 20785.
Hydrogencontentshallberecordedandavailableforreviewor
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
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements—Heat Analysis
reporting at the request of the purchaser. The producer shall
define the method used to determine hydrogen content, which Nominal Weight, lb/yd (kg/m)
of the following methods are used for hydrogen removal, and
60 to 84 85 to 114
Element
(29.8 to (42.2 to
present evidence of applicable procedures used to control the
(57.0)
41.7), 56.6),
final rail hydrogen: and over
incl incl
4.4.2.1 Vacuum degassing.
Carbon 0.55 to 0.68 0.70 to 0.80 0.74 to 0.84
4.4.2.2 Bloom control cooling. A
Manganese 0.60 to 0.90 0.70 to 1.00 0.80 to 1.10
Phosphorus, max 0.040 0.035 0.035
4.4.2.3 Rail control cooling.
Sulfur, max 0.050 0.040 0.040
4.4.3 Rail Control-Cooling Procedure (AREMA Specifica-
Silicon 0.10 to 0.50 0.10 to 0.50 0.10 to 0.50
tions for Steel Rails)—Rails shall be control-cooled in accor-
A
Theuppermanganeselimitmaybeextendedto1.25 %bythemanufacturerto
dance with the following procedure, except when produced
meet the Brinell hardness specification. When manganese exceeds 1.10 %, the
from vacuum degassed steel or control-cooled blooms, in residual alloy contents will be held to 0.25 % maximum nickel; 0.25 % maximum
chromium; 0.10 % maximum molybdenum; and 0.03 % maximum vanadium.
which case the rails may be air-cooled, and 4.4.3.1-4.4.3.5 are
not applicable.
TABLE 2 Product Analysis Allowance Beyond Limits of
4.4.3.1 All rails shall be cooled on the hot beds or runways
Specified Chemical Analysis
until full transformation is accomplished and then charged
Percent Under Percent Over
immediately into the containers. In no case should the rail be
Minimum Limit Maximum Limit
charged at a temperature below 725°F (385°C).
Carbon 0.04 0.04
4.4.3.2 Thetemperatureoftherailsbeforechargingshallbe
Manganese 0.06 0.06
determined with a reliable calibrated pyrometer at the top of
Phosphorus . . . 0.008
Sulfur . . . 0.008
the rail head at least 12 in. (305 mm) from the end.
A
Silicon 0.02 0.02
4.4.3.3 The cover shall be placed on the container immedi-
A
Continuously cast allowances shall be 0.05 % over maximum limit for silicon.
ately after completion of the charge and shall remain in place
for at least 10 h. After removal or raising of the lid of the
container, no rail shall be removed until the top layer of rails
chemicalanalysisrequirementsofTable1maybeapplied.The
has fallen to 300°F (149°C) or lower.
analysis, most representative of the heat (clear of the transition
4.4.3.4 The temperature between an outside rail and the
zone for continuous cast steel), shall be recorded as the official
adjacent rail in the bottom tier of the container at a point not
analysis, but the purchaser shall have access to all chemical
less than 12 in. (305 mm) nor more than 36 in. (915 mm) from
analysisdeterminations.Additionally,anymaterialmeetingthe
the rail end shall be recorded. This temperature shall be the
product analysis limits shown in Table 2 may be applied after
control for judging rate of cooling.
testing such material in accordance with Specification A29/
4.4.3.5 The container shall be so protected and insulated
A29M.
that the control temperature shall not drop below 300°F
5.2.2 Upon request by the purchaser, samples shall be
(149°C) in 7 h for rails 100 lb/yd (49.7 kg/m) in weight or
furnished to verify the analysis as determined in 5.2.1.
heavier, from the time that the bottom tier is placed in the
container, and in 5 h for rails of less than 100 lb/yd in weight.
6. Interior Condition
If this cooling requirement is not met, the rails shall be
6.1 Forbothingotsteelandcontinuouslycaststeel,between
considered control-cooled, provided that the temperature at a
macroetch testing shall be performed as agreed upon between
location not less than 12 in. (305 mm) from the end of a rail at
the purchaser and the manufacturer.
approximatelythecenterofthemiddletierdoesnotdropbelow
6.2 Macroetch Testing—Rail soundness shall be evaluated
300°F in less than 15 h.
by macroetching in a hot acid solution.
5. Chemical Composition
6.2.1 Sample Location and Frequency:
5.1 The chemical composition of the standard, head hard- 6.2.1.1 Ingot Steel—Atest piece representing the top end of
the top rail from one of the first three, middle three, and last
ened, and fully heat treated rail steel, determined as prescribed
in 5.2.1, shall be within the limits shown in Table 1. The three ingots of each heat shall be macroetched.
chemicalcompositionofalloyrailwillbesubjecttoagreement 6.2.1.2 Continuous Cast Steel—A test piece shall be mac-
between the purchaser and the manufacturer. roetched representing a rail from each strand from the begin-
5.1.1 When ladle tests are not available, finished material ning of each sequence and whenever a new ladle is begun,
representing the heat may be product tested. The product which is the point representative of the lowest level in the
analysis allowance beyond the limits of the specified ladle tundish (that is, the point of lowest ferrostatic pressure). One
analysis shall be within the limits for product analyses speci- additional sample from the end of each strand of the last heat
fied in Table 2. in the sequence shall also be tested. A new tundish is
5.2 Heat or Cast Analysis: considered to be the beginning of a new sequence.
5.2.1 Separate analysis shall be made from test samples 6.2.2 If any test specimen does not conform to the accept-
representing one of the first three and one of the last three able macroetch pictorial standards agreed upon between the
ingots or continuously cast blooms preferably taken during the purchaser and the manufacturer, further samples shall be taken
pouring of the heat. Determinations may be made chemically from the same strand or ingot. For continuously cast steel, two
or spectrographically. Any portion of the heat meeting the retestsshallbetakenonefromeachsideoftheoriginalsample
A1
TABLE 4 Hardness Requirements of High-Strength Rails
at positions decided by the manufacturer, and the material
(See notes)
between the two retest positions shall be rejected. For ingot
steel, testing shall progress down the ingot. If any retest fails,
NOTE 1—Hardness specified in Table 4 pertain to the head area only.
NOTE 2—A fully pearlitic microstructure shall be maintained in the
testing shall continue until acceptable internal quality is
head.
exhibited.All rails represented by failed tests shall be rejected.
NOTE 3—If 410 HB is exceeded, the microstructure throughout the
head shall be examined at 1003 or higher for confirmation of a fully
7. Hardness Properties
pearlitic microstructure in the head.
7.1 Rails shall be produced as specified by the purchaser
NOTE 4—No untempered martensite shall be present within the rail.
within the limits found in Table 3 and Table 4,
Nominal Weight, lb/yd (kg/m)
7.2 The Brinell hardness test shall be performed on a rail, a
60 to 84 85 to 114
115 (57.0)
(29.8 to 41.7), (42.2 to 56.6),
pieceofrailatleast6in.(152mm)longcutfromarailofeach
and over
incl incl
heat of steel or heat-treatment lot, or from a ground/milled
Brinell Hardness 277 to 341 321, min 341, min
transverse sample cut from the 6-in. piece. The test shall be
made on the side or top of the rail head after decarburized
materialhasbeenremovedtopermitanaccuratedetermination
8.1.7 A variation of 0.020 in. (0.51 mm) less or 0.040 in.
of hardness.Alternately, the test may be made on the prepared
(1.02 mm) greater than the specified thickness of web will be
transverseground/milledsample ⁄8in.fromthetoprailsurface.
permitted.
7.3 The test shall otherwise be conducted in accordance
8.1.8 Verification of tolerances shall be made using appro-
with Test Method E10.
priate gages as agreed upon between the purchaser and the
7.4 If any test result fails to meet the specifications, two
manufacturer.
additional checks shall be made on the same piece. If both
8.2 Length:
checks meet the specified hardness, the heat or heat treatment
8.2.1 The standard length of rails shall be 39 ft (11.9 m) or
lot meets the hardness requirement. If either of the additional
80 ft (24.4 m), or both, when measured at a temperature of
checks fails, two additional rails in the heat or lot shall be
60°F (15°C).
checked. Both of these checks must be satisfactory for the heat
8.2.2 Up to 9% for 39 ft rail or 15% for 80 ft rail of the
or lot to be accepted. If any one of these two checks fails,
entire order will be accepted in lengths shorter than the
individual rails may be tested for acceptance.
standard, varying by 1 ft (0.3 m) as follows: 79, 78, 77, 75, 70,
7.5 If the results for off-line head hardened rails and fully
65, 60, 39, 38, 37, 36, 33, 30, 27, and 25 ft.
heat treated rails fail to meet the requirements of 7.1, the rails
8.2.3 Avariation of ⁄16 in. (11 mm) for 39-ft (11.9-m) rails
may be retreated at the option of the manufacturer, and such
or ⁄8 in. (22 mm) for 80-ft rails (24.4-m) will be permitted.
rails shall be retested in accordance with 7.2 and 7.3.
8.2.4 Length variations other than those specified in 8.2.2
8. Permissible Variations of Dimension, Weight, and
and 8.2.3 may be established by agreement between the
Other Physical Attributes
purchaser and the manufacturer.
8.3 Drilling:
8.1 Section:
8.3.1 Circular holes for joint bolts shall be drilled to
8.1.1 The section of the rail shall conform to the design
conform to the drawings and dimensions furnished by the
specified by the purchaser.
purchaser.
8.1.2 A variation of 0.015 in. (0.38 mm) less or 0.040 in.
8.3.2 Avariation of −0 and + ⁄16 in. (1.6 mm) in the size of
(1.02 mm) greater than the specified height will be permitted
the bolt holes will be permitted.
measured at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) from each end.
8.3.3 A variation of ⁄32 in. (0.8 mm) in the location of the
8.1.3 A variation of 0.030 in. (0.76 mm) less or 0.030 in.
holes will be permitted.
greater than the specified rail head width will be permitted
measured at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) from each end. 8.3.4 Fins and burrs at the edges of bolt holes shall be
eliminated. The drilling process shall be controlled to prevent
8.1.4 Avariationof0.050in.(1.27mm)inthetotalwidthof
mechanical or metallurgical damage to the rail.
the base will be permitted.
8.3.5 When right-hand and left-hand drilling is specified, at
8.1
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