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Article: Railhead repair by gas metal arc robotic slot welding: an evaluation of newly-developed technology.(TTCI R&D)
- Article from:
- Railway Track and Structures
- Article date:
- February 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Improved mechanical performance is the goal of gas metal arc robotic slot welding used for railhead repair.
Several hundred thousand thermite and flash-butt welds are installed in North American railway systems each year. These welds provide a suitable joint through the cross section of the rail. However, neither type possesses mechanical performance equal to the parent rail. (1) Thus, to optimize the performance of the continuously welded rail, these welds should be kept to a minimum.
An alternative repair weld, called a slot weld, has been developed by The Holland Company. This process, which can be used for field repairs of the railhead, uses robotic ...