Improved rail joint bar designs and maintenance methods for use in CWR track

摘要

Improvement of rail joint performance is a long sought after goal for track engineers. As rail has improved over the years, the difference in service life between rail and rail joints has increased. Under the Association of American Railroads' Strategic Research Initiatives Program, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), is leading an industry-wide effort to improve the performance of standard joint bars (noninsulated) in a continuously welded rail (CWR) track, heavy-axle-load environment.