Effect of Air Pressure on Hardened Layer of U75V 60 kg/m Heavy Rail after Heat Treatment

The samples cut from U75V 60 kg/m heavy rail are heated to 900 ℃ in resistance furnace and then put into air spraying channel to be cooled for 80 s, and change air pressure from 0.16 MPa to 0.33 MPa, and observe the effect of air pressure on hardened layer. The thickness and hardness of hardened layer increases with the increase of air pressure, and the thickness is more than 24 mm at the center and top fillets of rail head, and more than 15 mm at the blow fillets of rail head when air pressure is more than 0.26 MPa. During the tempering after heat treatment, tempering temperature of rail head is more than 570 ℃ when air pressure is separately 0.16 MPa, 0.20 MPa and 0.23 MPa, which is higher than finishing temperature of pearlite transformation at the cooling rate of 3 ℃/s according to CCT curve of U75V steel. When air pressure is separately 0.26, 0.30 and 0.33 MPa, the tempering temperature is 529 ℃ lower than finishing temperature of pearlite transformation at the cooling rate of 3 ℃/s. Under this condition, pearlite transformation is finished totally, so in order to reduce air consumption and control the cost, proper air pressure for U75V 60 kg/m heavy rail heat treating should be 0.26 MPa; the cooling rate increases with the increase of air pressure, and the average cooling rate on the surface of rail head is more than 3.21 ℃/s when air pressure is more than 0.26 MPa, and the largest cooling rate occurs at the top fillets of rail head.

EFFECTS OF La ON STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF HEAVY RAIL STEEL

The mechanisms of La in heavy rail steel were studied by means of experimental measurements, microstructure observation and theoretical analysis in the present work. For heavy rail steel, the state and the content of La were measured, and the mechanisms and the effects of La on sulfide inclusions, microstracture and properties of steel were determined. Strip-like sulfides disappear in heavy rail steel with La/（O＋S）〉3.50, which is shown that the metallurgical function of modifying sulfide inclusions has been achieved by La. La can fine the grain size of the austenite in heavy rail steel. Under the experimental condition, the plasticity and the impacting toughness of heavy rail steel with 0.005wt% La can evidently be improved.

Research on Hot Plasticity of Continuous Cast Blank for Heavy Rail between BNbRE and BNbRE(V) at High Temperature

The text determines the hot plasticity of CC blank for heavy rail between BNbRE and BNbRE(V) under 1300～850 ℃ by using Gleeble 1500D. It also makes comparative analysis of the microstructure and fracture of the tensile specimens by scanning electronic microscope. The result indicates that hot plasticity is almost zero when temperature is between 1200～1300 ℃. While hot plasticity of BNbRE(V) is better than BNbRE between 975～1200 ℃. Plasticity decreases with the reducing temperature from 975 ℃. Hot plasticity of BNbRE(V) reaches the minimum because of the precipitation of vanadium in the specimens reaches the maximum at 850 ℃.Vanadium largely affects the plasticity of steel in brittle temperature region Ⅲ and the embrittlement extends to lower temperature.

Improved Sobel algorithm for defect detection of rail surfaces with enhanced efficiency and accuracy

A more effective and accurate improved Sobel algorithm has been developed to detect surface defects on heavy rails. The proposed method can make up for the mere sensitivity to X and Y directions of the Sobel algorithm by adding six templates at different directions. Meanwhile, an experimental platform for detecting surface defects consisting of the bed-jig, image-forming system with CCD cameras and light sources, parallel computer system and cable system has been constructed. The detection results of the backfin defects show that the improved Sobel algorithm can achieve an accurate and efficient positioning with decreasing interference noises to the defect edge. It can also extract more precise features and characteristic parameters of the backfin defect. Furthermore, the BP neural network adopted for defects classification with the inputting characteristic parameters of improved Sobel algorithm can obtain the optimal training precision of 0.0095827 with 106 iterative steps and time of 3 s less than Sobel algorithm with 146 steps and 5 s. Finally, an enhanced identification rate of 10% for the defects is also confirmed after the Sobel algorithm is improved.

Effects and Mechanisms of RE on Impact Toughness and Fracture Toughness of Clean Heavy Rail Steel

Clean high carbon heavy rail steel was prepared by the process of vacuum induction furnace smelting,forging and rolling.Mechanisms of RE on the impact toughness and fracture toughness for clean high carbon steel were investigated.In addition,the appropriate range of RE content for clean high carbon steel was determined.Both the austenite grain size and pearlite lamellar spacing decreased due to small amount of RE,consequently the impact toughness and fracture toughness were improved evidently.When the RE content exceeded a critical value,the pearlite lamellar spacing was increased,because RE was segregated on the austenite grain boundaries,damaged the orientation relationship of pearlite transformation,caused the disorder growth and morphology degenerating of pearlite.With the increasing of RE content,both the impact toughness and fracture toughness of clean high carbon steel were gradually increased at first and then decreased.It was found that when the RE content was between 0.0081% and 0.0088%,both the impact toughness and fracture toughness of clean high carbon heavy rail steel were the best.The maximum ballistic work was 21.2 J（20 ℃） and 12.2 J（-20 ℃）,respectively.The maximum plane-strain fracture toughness was 45.67 MPa·m1/2（20 ℃） and 37.04 MPa·m1/2（-20 ℃）,respectively.

Effects of Rare Earth on Structure and Mechanical Properties of Clean BNbRE Steel

The mechanisms of RE in clean BNbRE steel were studied by means of experimental measurement, microstructural observation and theoretical analysis. For BNbRE steel, the state and the content of RE were measured, and the effects and the mechanisms of RE on sulfide inclusions, microstructure and properties of steel were determined. On the condition of increasing the cleanliness of steel, the mechanisms of RE in steel were changed to certain degree. Small amount of RE has the effect of cleaning, modifying inclusions and alloying in clean steel, too. With increasing the cleanliness of BNbRE steel, addition of RE should be decreased properly. Under experimental conditions, the optimum addition of RE is -0.01 % （mass fraction） for clean BNbRE steel, while RE can evidently improve plasticity and impact toughness of BNbRE steel.

SMART/ASTC dynamic soft reduction technology and its application on the bloom continuous caster at Pangang

The SMART/ASTC dynamic soft reduction technology of VAI and its application on the 6-strand bloom continuous caster at Pangang, China are presented. The operation results show that soft reduction technology is effective to improve the inner quality of continuously cast blooms. At Pangang, both the central porosity and the central segregation ratings are no more than 1.0, the central shrinkage cavity rating is no more than 0.5, and the central segregation index of carbon is no more than 1.05. Rails made from the blooms have excellent quality and are used for high-speed tracks.

Determination of Forward Slip Coefficient During Heavy Rail Rolling Using Universal Mill

The forward slip coefficient is one of the most important parameters for heavy rail rolling using universal mill.For simplifying the theoretical model,the vertical roll with box pass was simplified as an equivalent flat roll first.Second,the neutral angle of horizontal roll and vertical roll was represented.Then,the equation of neutral line on the flank of horizontal roll was determined and the forward slip coefficient of the web was derived according to different positions of neutral line.Finally,the forward slip coefficient of the top and base of heavy rail was obtained.The theoretical results were basically in agreement with the experimental data.

Factors Influencing High Temperature Thermo Plasticity of BNbRE Steel at the Third Brittle Zone

In view of fine cracks occurred on the surface of BNbRE continuous casting slabs for heavy rail in the practical production, the effect of two factors, i.e. deformation temperature, deformation velocity, on thermo plasticity of BNbRE steel at the third brittle zone was quantitatively investigated on GLEEBLE-1500D thermal-mechanical simulator after measuring the RA-T curve of BNbRE steel. The results provide experimental data for optimizing the technology of continuous casting secondary cooling zone and avoiding the occurrence of fine surface cracks.

Surface Temperature Change of U75V 60 kg/m Heavy Rail During Heat Treatment

The U75V 60 kg/m heavy rail samples were heated to 900 ℃ in a resistance furnace for a fixed duration of 50 min. Under this condition, the samples were austenitized totally. Then, the samples were dragged out of furnace and cooled for 25 s in the open air. After that, the samples entered into the air spraying channel, and were cooled from the top and both sides by compressed air. During this period, main technical parameters were changed such as the distance between spray nozzles and surface of rail head, air pressure, air spraying time and air temperature. So under laboratory condition, optimal heat-treating parameters of U75V 60 kg/m heavy rail were determined as the distance between spray nozzles and surface of rail head of 15 mm, air pressure of 0.26 MPa, cooling time of 80 s, and air temperature of 28 ℃. The surface temperature at different positions of heavy rail was measured before and after heat treatment, and the temperature changing law was determined. The self tempering occurred on the surface of rail head after heat treatment, and the tempering temperature became the largest （about 3 min） after heat treatment, separately 528, 524 and 536 ℃ at the center, top fillet and bottom fillet of rail head. The heavy rail was cooled in open air after heat treatment; during this period, the temperature gap on the surface of heavy rail became smaller and smaller, and was reduced to zero when being cooled for 20 min.

3D Thermo-mechanical Coupled Simulation of Whole Rolling Process for 60kg/m Heavy Rail

3D thermo-meehanical coupled simulation of whole rolling process for 60 kg/m heavy rail was accomplished by FEM method. The finite element model, physical parameters of U75V and parameter setting of simulation were introduced in detail. The whole rolling process of 60 kg/m heavy rail was divided into 27 time cells to simulate respectively, and the model rebuilding and temperature inheritance method in intermediate pass were proceeded. Then, based on simulation results, the workpiece deformation result, metal flow, stress and strain of 60 kg/m heavy rail for typical passes were obtained. The temperature variation curves of whole rolling process for section key points of 60 kg/m heavy rail were plotted, and the temperature falling law of whole rolling process for 60 kg/m heavy rail was studied. In addition, temperature distribution of 60 kg/m heavy rail after whole rolling process was analyzed, and the results showed that temperature was highest at center of rail head and lowest at fringe of rail base. Moreover, the simulation results and measured results of rolling force for 60 kg/m heavy rail were compared, and the regularity was in good agreement.

Reaction mechanism between Al_(2)O_(3)–MgO refractory materials and rare earth high-carbon heavy rail steel

Submerged entry nozzle(SEN)clogging is a major problem affecting the production quality of rare earth steel,and finding a suitable refractory outlet can significantly reduce production costs.To explore the relationship between refractory composition and interface interaction,unprotected coated Al_(2)O_(3)–MgO refractories and SiO2-coated Al_(2)O_(3)–MgO refractories were added to rare earth high-carbon heavy rail steel under laboratory conditions,and the Al_(2)O_(3)–MgO refractory was found to be more suitable.The results show that,from the epoxy resin side to the refractory side,the contour of the refractory interface reaction layer can be divided into two main layers:an iron-rich reaction layer and an iron-poor reaction layer.Calculations based on the spherical model suggest that the adhesion force is proportional to the size of the refractory particles and inclusions,and the same result applies to the surface tension.Controlling the inclusions at a smaller size has a specific effect on alleviating the erosion of refractories.Combined with the erosion mechanism of Al_(2)O_(3)–MgO refractories,the interface reaction mechanism between Al_(2)O_(3)–MgO refractories and molten steel was proposed,which provides ideas for solving SEN clogging.