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Th e paper presents the results of internal stress tests in rails and rail joints, carried out applying the welding method and the termite welding. Stress tests were used as destroy strain gauges tests. Th e stress ratios in rails and rail joints made of R260 and R350HT were compared. Th e stress measurement method is based on the requirements of PN-EN 13674-1+A1:2017 standards.

Abstract. This article presents selected aspects of testing flash butt welded rail joints that have a decisive impact on the rails’ operational strength, including cracking in the track. Bending tests of rail joints, fatigue tests, hardness HV30, residual stress results, and microstructure of welded joints are presented. The introduction shows sporadically occurring joint defects revealed on broken fractures related to the technological process of flash butt welding. The above tests were based on the requirements of PN-EN 14587-1:2019-03 [1] and PN-EN 13674-1+A1:2017-07 [2].

The paper presents the reasons for the emergence of one of the main defects of railway rails, such as cracking, and factors affecting its increase. It was found that vehicle cooperation with the rail and the forming of the rolling surface caused by the load, as well as the resulting rail stresses caused by the dynamics of rolling stock are the cause of the head-check of the rails. The influence of impact resistance on rail cracks in the occurrence of these defects is also presented.

W artykule przedstawiono obligatoryjne badania jakościowe materiału szyn kolejowych, wykonywane dla przemysłu ko-lejowego i mające status badań kwalifikacyjnych, którym poddaje się szyny kolejowe. Obejmują one badania mechaniki pękania (wyznaczenie krytycznego współczynnika intensywności naprężeń KIC, wyznaczenie prędkości rozwoju pęknięcia zmęczeniowego da/dN), określenie naprężeń w stopkach szyn oraz badania zmęczeniowe. W artykule zaprezentowano wyniki badań szyn normalnotorowych typu 60E1, odwalcowanych ze stali gatunku R260 przez wybranych producentów europejskich oraz przeprowadzono analizę wyników na podstawie wytycznych normy PN-EN 13674-1+A1:2017-07. Słowa kluczowe: badania jakościowe szyn, współczynnik KIC, propagacja da/dN, naprężenie