KRUMES,

B. VITEZ
I. VITEZ,
VITEZ D.
et al.:
UIC-RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR THE USE OF RAIL STEEL GRADES

ISSN 0543-5846

METABK 44 (2) 137-140 (2005)

UDC - UDK 669.14.018.297.2:006=111

UIC-RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE USE OF RAIL STEEL GRADES

Received - Primljeno: 2004-02-06
Accepted - Prihvaeno: 2004-08-20
Review Paper - Pregledni rad

The paper elaborates overlook criteria to determine the choice and recommendations for the use of rail steel
grades according to draft UIC-recommendations leaflet 721R from 2003. which was prepared by Infrastructure
Commission from International Union of Railways based on European standard EN 13674-1.
Key words: UIC-recommendations, criteria for choice, rail steel grades, use
UIC-preporuke za uporabu elika za eljeznike tranice. U lanku su pregledno obraeni kriteriji za izbor i
preporuke za uporabu elika za eljeznike tranice prema nacrtu UIC-preporuka 721R iz 2003. koji je izradila
Komisija za Infrastrukturu Meunarodne eljeznike unije (UIC) na temelju Europske norme EN 13674-1.
Kljune rijei: UIC-preporuke, kriteriji izbora, elici za eljeznike tranice, uporaba
INTRODUCTION
The manufacture and acceptance of railway rails is the
subject of UIC Leaflet 860 O-Technical specification for
the supple of rails - 8th edition, 1.7.1986. and Codex UIC
860 V from International Union Railways as well from 1986.
The present edition of UIC Leaflet 721 R only refers to
steel grades specified in European standard EN 13674-1.
The aim of Leaflet 721 R is to provide assistance in
the selection of rail steel grades so that the most suitable
rail is chosen for the specific railway operating conditions
in each case.
UIC Leaflet 721 R was first published in 1980 and was
intended to give recommendations for the use of rails made
from hard and extra-hard grades of steel. At the time, steel
grades with a minimum tensile strength of 880 MPa were
considered hard and those with a minimum tensile strength
of 1080 MPa were considered extra hard. Increases in railway traffic, greater axleloads, higher speeds and the introduction of new generations of rolling stock have increased
the loadings on rails (in curves especially). Today, in light,
of developments in rail manufacture and changing prices
for rail steels, most railways now opt for steel grades 260
and, to a very limited degree, 260 Mn (steel grades 900 A
and 900 B) as standard equipment for their track. Rails of
steel grade 260 and 260 Mn is not exempt from the problems that arise in curves with small and very small radii
and/or heavy loadings. Compared to rails made from infeI. Vitez, D. Krumes, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering University of
Osijek, Slavonski Brod, Croatia, B. Vitez, The Open University, London, England

METALURGIJA 44 (2005) 2, 137-140

rior steel grades, these lateral and vertical wear problems

arise later or in another form (corrugation, head-checking).
The Requirements of the Codex UIC 860 V
Technical conditions of manufacture and delivery of
railway rails was standardized in Codex UIC 860V of the
International Railroad Union, which has been harmonized
with the world trends. Table 1. gives a survey of the prescribed values regarding chemical composition and tensile
properties for four types of normally hard rail steels [1 - 8].
Table 1. shows that increase of tensile strength of railroad steels is obtained by the increase of carbon, manganese, silicium and chromium content, while the required
purity of steel is obtained by reduction of the allowed content of phosphorus and sulfur.
The Requirements of the Draft new European Norm
The draft of new European Norm pr EN 13674-1: June
1999.-Part 1 covered flat bottom symmetrical rails having a
linear mass 46 kg/m and above. This draft EN has prepared
under the direction of the European Committee for
Standardisation (CEN1) from national standards bodies of
19 states2 and it is distributed for review and comments.
1
2

Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN) = European Committee

for Standardization;
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland und United Kingdom;

137

I. VITEZ et al.: UIC-RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE USE OF RAIL STEEL GRADES

qualifying tests. On this hardness values are given new markings steel
Tablica 1.
grades for railway rails [9 - 11].
Table 2. gives seven steel grades
Tensile
Grade
ElongaChemical composition, elements in % of mass
for
rails, hardness range, minimum
strength, Rm tion As,
of
2
fracture
toughness values, description
Smax
steel
Cr
Pmax
C
N/mm
Si
Mn
min, %
and branding lines on web. These
14
0,05 0,05 680 - 830
R0700 0,40-0,60 0,80-1,25 0,05-0,35
steel grades reflect trends in railway
10
R0900A 0,60-0,80 0,80-1,30 0,10-0,50
0,04 0,04 880 - 1030
usage (either non heat treated - HT =
10
R0900B 0,55-0,75 1,30-1,70 0,10-0,50
0,04 0,04 880 - 1030
on heat treated steels).
9
1080
R1100* 0,60-0,82 0,80-1,30 0,30-0,90 0,8-1,3 (0,025) 0,03
Internal quality of rails shall be
ultrasonically tested by a continuos
* Other alloy elements such as V or Mo, Nb can be applied according to agreement between
manufacturer and the buyer.
process ensuring that entire rail length
and cross-sectional area are inpected
(at least 70 % of the head and at least 60 % of the web).
Modern rail production technology and the requirements
Surface quality included control: all protrusions, hot marks
of high-speed railways within the Community have deand seams from rolling, wear paterns, hot scratches, slivmanded a completely new look at the philosophy and coners etc.; cold marks, surface microstructural damage (martent of this part draft pr EN XXXX. Whenever possible this
tensite or white phase), automatic foot inspection on surpart of draft pr EN is performance based, adopts the Euroface defects (cracks).
pean Quality System standard EN ISO 9002 and requires
Rail profiles, dimensions, properties and linear masses
manufacturers to offer the latest proven technology.
Two major divisions of the draft proposal EN are:
shall be in accordance with is prescribed in draft pr EN.
- qualifying tests and
This draft pr EN contains 21 different profiles railways
- acceptance tests.
rails with linear masses from 46 till 60 kg/m. The profiles
given at the Figure 1. have following designations: 49 =
The qualifying tests introduce a number of performance
49 E1 (previous DIN S 49), and UIC 60 = 60 E1 [11].
requirements not previously seen in national or internaCRITERIA TO
tional standards (such as fracture toughness KIc). They also
DETERMINE THE CHOICE OF STEEL GRADE
include typical results from relevant acceptance tests.
The acceptance tests have been designed to control
The various criteria used to choose a steel grade are
those characteristics of the rail steel and rail that are of
grouped under the three following headings: local paramrelevance to the production of high quality rails and the
eters, maintenance methods, economic assessment [12].
demands of the railway operator. The principe of the acceptance criteria is based on measured hardness values
Local parameters
and not on measured tensile tests, which form part of the
Table 1.

Prescribed chemical composition and tensile properties of rail steels according to

UIC 860V 8
Propisani kemijski sastav i vlana svojstva elika za tranice prema UIC 860 V 8

Table 2.

Steel grades hardness range, fracture toughness and

other [11]
Raspon vrijednosti tvrdoa elika za tranice, lomna
ilavost i drugo [11]

Table 2.

Fracture toughness
1/2
BranKIc / MPa m
Minimum value Description ding
lines
mean
single

Steel
grade

Hardness
range
HBW

200

200-240

30

35

C-Mn

220

220-260

30

35

C-Mn

260

260-300

26

29

C-Mn

260 Mn

260-300

26

29

C-Mn

320 Cr

320-360

24

26

1 % Cr

350 HT

350-390

30

32

350 LHT 350-390

26

29

C-Mn HT
Low alloyed HT

138

These parameters influence the development of wear

and rolling contact fatigue defects:
- curve radius (lateral wear, corrugation on the low rail in
curves, head-checking, rail contact fatigue defects cause
serious problems on curve radii on which trains run at
higher speeds),
- tonnage carried (the actual daily or annual mega gross
tonnage mgt in the zone under consideration),
- the impact of falling and rising gradients (of around 20
and more),
- speed and cant on curves (a wide range of traffic types
which are either pulled or pushed, cant deficiency contributes to lateral wear on the high rail and to propagation of rolling contact fatigue defects whereas excess
cant causes crushing on the low rail),
- axleload (a higher axleload is conducive to crushing on
the low rail),
- the type of rolling stock (which are harsh on the track
METALURGIJA 44 (2005) 2, 137-140

I. VITEZ et al.: UIC-RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE USE OF RAIL STEEL GRADES

may exert substantial forces in curves or high adhesion
forces which are conducive to rail damage, smaller
wheel radii may also contribute to rail damage).
67

"'

72

17

16,5

11,5

,75
1:14 1:2

1:3
14

1:7,8

10,5

75
1:2,

172

15=2/5h

37,5

18

39,8
16=2/5h
149

71+$

1:3
125

150

Figure 1. Shape and basic dimensions of rails, type 49 and UIC 60,
O = center of sample for testing of tensile strength from
the head of Z-rails
Slika 1. Izgled i osnovne razmjere tranica tipova 49 i UIC 60, O
= centar uzorka za ispitivanje vlane vrstoe iz glave Ztranica

Rail maintenance methods

Maintenance methods (lubrication and grinding) help
combat the wear and rolling contact fatigue phenomena
referred to in local parameters. By applying these methods appropriately, maintenance costs can be reduced [12]:
- lubrication on the gauge corner of the high rail (remains
the most reliable means of retarding rapid lateral wear
of the high rail in curves, the regularity and precision of
application of a lubricant that are of paramount importance),
- rail grinding (prolongs rail service life by preventing
the emergence of defects or by delaying their development, preventive grinding to improve the quality of the
running surface of newly-laid rails and corrective grinding to remove rail defects that have already developed
by reprofiling the rail to optimize wheel/rail contact).
Economic assessment
Account must be taken not only of the technical considerations but also of the economic ones when choosing a
steel grade for rails.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE USE
OF NORMAL AND HARD STEEL GRADE RAILS
These definitions apply in the following text:
- normal steel grade rails: rails in 260 or 260 Mn grade
steel,
- hard steel grade rails: rails in 320 Cr, 350 HT or 350
LHT grade steel [12].
METALURGIJA 44 (2005) 2, 137-140

Rails made of 260 or 350 HT steel grade are by far

and away the most commonplace today.
The maintenance policy (rail lubrication and grinding) has a substantial impact on the service life of rails, be
they of normal or hard steel. As service life is a key factor
in any economic analysis, the maintenance policy must
be taken into account when choosing the steel grade for
rails.
A key parameter in the selection of rail steel grades is
the procurement and maintenance cost of the rails. It is
important to consider whether the higher capital costs of
350 HT, 350 LHT and 320 Cr are offset by the longer
service life and/or lower maintenance outlay.
In small and very small radius curves and/or subject to
heavy loadings, many railways achieve a longer (and therefore more cost-effective) service life by laying rails made
from steel grades 350 HT, 350 LHT or 320 Cr. The corresponding hardness of these rails is obtained either through
heat treatment or by the addition of alloys like chromium,
with or without structural change. Timely execution of
maintenance measures (grinding and above all lubrication
of the rails) has a decisive impact on the service life of
rails in curves.
Often, a combination of these two measures (choice of
rail steel grade and maintenance) is necessary in order to
achieve a cost-effective service life for rails.
Both technical and economic criteria must therefore
be considered when making that choice.
Technical criteria
Steel grades 200 and 220 are still widely found in track,
they are hardly used anymore for new rails.
The ranges for use of the various steel grades indicated in the diagram are based on the curve radius and
actual tonnage carried parameters alone. There is also an
overlap zone in the diagram, where the choice of steel grade
will depend on the other local criteria listed above.
These recommendations are in line with the current
practices of railways running mixed passenger and freight
traffic with a maximum axleload of 22,5 tones on conventional lines.
Economic criteria
The most appropriate steel grade should yield the lowest average annual overall cost. The average annual overall cost consists of the investment cost and the maintenance cost and may be defined using the following general formula:
P=

C
+M
n

(1)

139

I. VITEZ et al.: UIC-RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE USE OF RAIL STEEL GRADES

where:
P - average annual overall cost,
C - investment cost,
M - annual maintenance cost,
n - service life of rails (in years).
The general formula for a rail made of harder steel is as
follows. The service life is n + Dn years, the investment
cost is C + DC and the average annual maintenance cost is
M + DM:
P =

C + C
+  M + M 
n + n

(2)

Hard rail is only justified if the cost P involved is less

than P.
Given that little is often known about the difference
between the maintenance cost of normal grade rails and
hard grade rails and that the difference is minor compared
to the investment and maintenance cost, the formula can
be simplified by considering the maintenance costs equivalent. The formula can therefore be simplified as follows:
P < P

C
C + C C
<
n > n
n + n
n
C

(3)

In practical terms, the percentage increase in the service life must be greater than the additional investment
cost. Application of these economic criteria is only valid
if the traffic conditions remain the same throughout the
period in question [12].
CONCLUSIONS
According to Codex UIC 860 V/1986. four pearlitic
steel grades for railways rails were prescribed with tensile
strength 700 till 1100 MPa (see Table 1.), but in draft pr
EN/1999. seven pearlitic steel grades are specified giving
a hardness rang between 200 to 390 HBW (see Table 2.).
Draft pr EN 13674-1 has two mayor divisions: qualifying tests and acceptance tests. The qualifying tests introduce a number of perfomance requirements not previously seen in earlier norm and they also include typical
results from relevant acceptance tests. The acceptance tests

140

have to control the prescribed properties of the high quality rail steel according norm EN ISO 9002 and requires
manufacturers to offer the latest proven technology. The
principal of the acceptance criteria is based on measured
hardness values and the tensile test values are only form
part of the qualifying tests. The new properties of steels
for railway rails on qualifying tests are: fracture toughness, fatigue crack growth rate, fatigue test, residual stress
in rail foot etc.
UIC Recommendation Leaflet 721 R from 2003 for
the use of rail steel grades only refers to steel grades specified in European standard EN 13674-1. A particular point
to note is that the names of the steel grades have been
altered (see Table 2.) and the reference value used is no
longer the tensile strength but the minimum hardness of
the running surface.
Criteria to determine the choice of steel grade are
grouped under following 3 headings: local parameters,
maintenance methods and economic assessment. Recommendations for the use of rail steel grades when we making choice say that both technical and economical criteria
must be considered.
More stringent operating requirements and higher
speeds call for significant quality improvements. This resulted in elaboration of the new European standard which
mainly introduces new testing methods to be implemented
in order to achieve greater safety in railway traffic.
REFERENCES
[1] H. Bienzeisler, H. Schmedders, K. Wick, Thyssen Technische
Berichte, H. 1 (1988), 147 - 159.
[2] *** ORE-Frage D156, Bericht 1, Utrecht, September 1984
[3] R. Schweitzer, J. Flgge, W. Heller, 105 (1985), Nr. 25-26, 16.
Dez., 1451 - 1456.
[4] I. Vitez, Metalurgija 35(1996) 1, 49 - 51.
[5] I. Vitez, D. Krumes, K. imunovi, Metalurgija 38 (1999) 1, 25-30.
[6] I. Vitez, I. Budi, D. Krumes, Proceedings of the Charpy Centenary Conference, Poitiers, 2001, Vol. 1, 225 - 231.
[7] I. Vitez, D. Krumes, I. Kladari, 9th International Conference on
the mechanical behaviour of materials Geneva, Switzerland, May
25-29, 2003, 2E4 -7 p.
[8] *** UIC Kodex 860 V, 8. Ausgabe 01.07.1986.
[9] I. Vitez, T. Hozjan: Graevinar 55 (2003) 5, 279 - 284.
[10] I. Vitez, D. Krumes, I. Kladari: Proceedings 1st DAAAM International Conference on Advanced Technologies for Developing
Countries, Slavonski Brod, 2002, 245 - 250.
[11] *** Draft pr EN 13674-1: June 1999 E, Part 1: Flat bottom symmetrical railway rails 46 kg/m and above.
[12] *** UIC Leaflet 721 R: Draft of 09.07.2003.

METALURGIJA 44 (2005) 2, 137-140