Rail specific weight: weight of 1 linear meter
As scientists suppose, the first rails were invented in Ancient Egypt and were straight sticks along which carts were moved to transport materials during pyramid construction, although other studies speak of the active use of wooden rails by the ancient Romans. In the 16th century, wooden guides again began to be used for moving carts in mines. In 1767, the Englishman Abraham Darby decided to pave the road from his mines with cast-iron rails instead of wooden ones. This decision marked the beginning of the railway era.
Types of rails
Today railway rails are familiar to everyone, but only those involved in railway work know that there are a huge number of rail modifications, different in shape, length and purpose. The weight of railway rails also differs.
Classification:
- by type of purpose: railway, crane, tram, mine-cart and connecting rails,
- by quality category: heat-strengthened and non-heat-strengthened,
- by presence of holes for bolted joints,
- by method of steel smelting.
Materials
Carbon steel is currently the only material from which rails are produced. Its quality may differ depending on GOST and purpose. Physical properties are determined by internal structure and chemical composition.
Carbon makes steel wear-resistant and hard, but at the same time a high content of this element causes brittleness of the material, especially in the presence of harmful impurities of phosphorus and sulfur.
Manganese, an alloying component, increases hardness and toughness of steel; silicon increases wear resistance. Vanadium and titanium improve the internal structure.
What is the weight of one linear meter of rail?
The main rail marking consists of a capital letter, or letters, and numbers, for example R-65, where the letters indicate the purpose category and the numbers indicate the weight of 1 meter of rail, approximately.
- For broad-gauge railway tracks, rails R43, R50, R65 and R75 are produced. They are also intended for switches.
- Rails marked RP with indices 50, 65 and 70 are intended for industrial broad-gauge tracks.
- For mines and pits, types R33 and R38 are produced.
- For narrow-gauge tracks, light rail types R11, R18, R24 and R33 are used.
- Heavy crane structures are installed on rails of types KR70, KR80, KR100 and KR120.
- Grooved rail type is intended for tram tracks: T58, T62.
| Rail type | Weight of 1 linear meter | Rail type | Weight of 1 linear meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| R8 | 8.42 | R38 | 38.42 |
| R11 | 11.8 | R43 | 44.65 |
| R18 | 17.91 | R50 | 51.67 |
| R24 | 24.9 | R65 | 64.88 |
| R33 | 33.48 | R75 | 74.41 |
| Rail type | Weight of 1 linear meter |
|---|---|
| KR 70 | 46.10 |
| KR 80 | 64.24 |
| KR 100 | 83.99 |
| KR 120 | 113.47 |
| KR 140 | 141.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the density of rails be used for precise calculations?
The density and weight values for rails in this article are reference values. They are suitable for preliminary estimates, but design, construction, production and other critical calculations should be checked against standards, material datasheets or measurement results.
Why can the actual weight of rails differ from the table?
The actual weight of rails depends on composition, moisture, temperature, porosity, fraction size, material grade and measurement conditions. Because of this, real values may differ from the average table data.
How do you calculate the mass of rails from density?
For an approximate calculation, use the formula: mass = density × volume. If the density of rails is given in kg/m³ and the volume is in m³, the result will be in kilograms.