Continuous welded rail using the mobile flash butt welding machine

摘要

Fish-bolted rail joints have been one of the major locations and causes of maintenance on rail track since the first railway line was built. Discontinuity of the track running surface produces dynamic impact loads, battering the rail joint ends and bending the rail. This causes greater stress on the ballast and subgrade, which in turn increases ballast settlement and produces uneven track. The pumping action at the joints also accelerates rail failure, sleeper wear and fouling of the ballast at the joint.