Screw Spike and Spring Washer Holddown Force and Resiliency Investigation [Research Results]

Federal Railroad Administration2022PDFBriefStuart, CameronDersch, Marcus S.United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and DevelopmentUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rail Transportation and Engineering CenterUnited States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and DevelopmentUnited StatesScrewsTorqueFastenersBoltsSpikesScrew spikesSpring washersBroken spikesElastic fastenersLongitudinal loadResiliencyTrackRR 22-29Baillargeon, JayResearch ResultsIn 2022, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Association of American Railroads completed short-term field experiments to measure the rail forces in steep grades and high-degree curvature on Norfolk Southern Railway. This experiment was conducted to understand the rail stress distribution and fastener load demand by measuring the dynamic rail forces and the longitudinal rail forces due to temperature changes. Transportation Technology Center, Inc. performed the field test at Horseshoe Curve, a three-track railroad curve near Altoona, PA.143