Measurement Methods for Residual Stresses in CWR

Continuously welded rails are a part of the track structure since the 1950s. Total stresses in continuously welded rails include residual stresses gen- erated during the manufacturing process as well as the service life of rails. The control of rail stresses is very important for traffic safety. Measurement meth- ods for residual stress in rails are presented in this paper. Since destructive measurement methods are unsuitable for use in the railway track, the modern non-destructive methods were particularly presented and discussed. The ad- vantages and disadvantages of X-ray diffraction, ultrasonic, magnetic and elec- tromagnetic methods are particularly explained and considered