In Japan, rail bonds used for electrical connection between rails are joined to rails by the flame brazing method to use a tin-zinc brazing filler metal, which sometimes fall off from the brazed part to cause trouble for train operation. To prevent this problem, we studied the application of ultrasonic inspection to the brazed parts. Further, to evaluate durability of the brazed part, we studied the vibration test method based on results of measurement of rail vibration acceleration in fields. This paper introduces the ultrasonic inspection and the durability test for rail bond joints.

Copyright (c) 2007 Railway Technical Research Institute