ASTM A183-98

Standard Specification for Carbon Steel Track Bolts and Nuts

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers carbon steel track bolts and carbon steel nuts for use in conjunction with joint bars to connect rails in railroad track.  
1.2 Two grades of track bolts are defined:  
1.2.1 Grade 1, Low-Carbon, Untreated, primarily for industrial and mine track use.  
1.2.2 Grade 2, Heat-Treated, for general track use.  
1.3 Two grades of nuts are defined:  
1.3.1 Grade 1, Low-Carbon or Soft Steel , primarily for application on Grade 1 track bolts.  
1.3.2 Grade 2, Medium-Carbon, for general application on track bolts.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-May-1998
• ICS: 21.060.10 - Bolts, screws, studs
• Technical Committee: A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys
• Drafting Committee: A01.01 - Steel Rails and Accessories

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM A183-03 - Standard Specification for Carbon Steel Track Bolts and Nuts
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1476-07(2019) - Standard Specification for Performance of Gasketed Mechanical Couplings for Use in Piping Applications
• Effective Date: 10-May-1998

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: A 183 – 98
Standard Specification for
Carbon Steel Track Bolts and Nuts
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 183; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope MIL-STD-129 Marking for Shipment and Storage
MIL-STD-163 Steel Mill Products, Preparation for Ship-
1.1 This specification covers carbon steel track bolts and
ment and Storage
carbon steel nuts for use in conjunction with joint bars to
connect rails in railroad track.
3. Ordering Information
1.2 Two grades of track bolts are defined:
3.1 Orders for track bolts and nuts under this specification
1.2.1 Grade 1, Low-Carbon, Untreated, primarily for indus-
shall include the following information:
trial and mine track use.
3.1.1 Quantity of bolts and nuts (weights),
1.2.2 Grade 2, Heat-Treated, for general track use.
3.1.2 ASTM designation and date of issue,
1.3 Two grades of nuts are defined:
3.1.3 Grade of bolt: 1, low-carbon untreated, or 2, heat-
1.3.1 Grade 1, Low-Carbon or Soft Steel, primarily for
treated (see 1.2 and Table 1),
application on Grade 1 track bolts.
3.1.4 Design of bolt: oval or elliptical neck (see 2.3),
1.3.2 Grade 2, Medium-Carbon, for general application on
3.1.5 Dimensions of bolt: nominal diameter and length
track bolts.
under head,
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1.6 Grade of nut: 1, low-carbon, or 2, medium-carbon (see
as the standard.
1.3 and Table 2 and Table 1),
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.7 Nominal size of nut, thickness, and chamfer angle (see
2.3),
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.8 Thread fit of nuts on bolts: free or wrench-turn fit (see
F 606 Test Methods for Determining the Mechanical Prop-
2.2), and
erties of Externally and Internally Threaded Fasteners,
3.1.9 Certification or test reports, if required (see Section
Washers, and Rivets
12).
2.2 ANSI Standards:
B1.1 Unified Screw Threads
4. Manufacture
B18.10 Track Bolts and Nuts
4.1 The steel shall be made by the open-hearth, basic-
2.3 AREA Standard:
oxygen, or electric-furnace process, and may be either continu-
American Railway Engineering Association Manual, Design
4 ous strand or ingot cast.
of Track Bolts and Nuts, Chapter 4, Part 1
4.2 Bolts, including the head and oval or elliptical neck,
2.4 Federal Standard:
5 may be produced by hot or cold forging at the option of the
Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking for Shipments (Civil Agencies)
manufacturer.
2.5 Military Standard:
4.3 Bolt threads may be machine cut or hot- or cold-rolled
at the option of the manufacturer.
4.4 Grade 2 bolts shall be heat-treated by quenching in a
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel,
liquid medium from above the austenitizing temperature, and
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
tempering at a temperature not less than 750°F (399°C). Grade
A01.01 on Steel Rails and Accessories.
Current edition approved May 10, 1998. Published September 1998. Originally
1 bolts need not be heat-treated.
published as A 183 – 35 T to replace A 50, A 51. Combined with A 76 in 1980. Last
previous edition A 183 – 83 (1990).
5. Chemical Requirements
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.08.
5.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements for chemical
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street,
13th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
composition specified in Table 1.
Available from the American Railway Engineering Assn., 2000 L St., N.W.,
5.2 Heat or Cast Analysis—An analysis of each heat or cast
Washington, DC 20036.
shall be made by the manufacturer to determine the percent-
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700
Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS. ages of the elements specified in Table 1. The analysis shall be
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
A 183–98
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Bolts Nuts
Element, % Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 1 Grade 2
Heat-Cast Product Heat-Cast Product Heat-Cast Product Heat-Cast Product
Carbon, min or range 0.15 0.13 0.30 0.27 0.15 0.13 0.40–0.55 0.37–0.58
A
Phosphorus, max 0.05 0.058 0.05 0.058 0.12 0.05 0.058
A A
Sulfur, max 0.33 0.06 0.068 0.33 0.06 0.068
A
Where rephosphorized or resulfurized material is applied, due to the degree to which phosphorus and sulfur segregate, check analyses for these elements are not
technologically appropriate.
TABLE 2 Nut Suitability
6.1.4 The bolt-nut assembly shall be capable of reaching the
minimum load specified in Table 4 before failure of the
Nut Grade
assembly.
6.2 Number of Tests:
Low-Carbon Grade 1 Medium-Carbon Grade 2
6.2.1 Grade 1 Bolts—One full-section tension test shall be
Heavy Heavy
made by the manufacturer from each lot of bolts. Each lot shall
Square Square
1 1
Bolt Grade ⁄8 in ⁄8 in consist of not more than one heat of steel, nor be greater than
Regular Heavy Heavy
Oversize Oversize
10 tons (9.7 Mg).
Square Square Regular Square
in in
25° 25° Square 25°
6.2.2 Grade 2 Bolts—One full-section tension test and one
Thickness Thickness
Chamfer Chamfer Chamfer
60° 60° reduced-section tension test shall be made by the manufacturer
Chamfer Chamfer
from each lot of bolts. Each lot shall consist of not more than
A A A A A A one heat of steel, heat-treated in the same furnace load in a
Grade 1 X X X X X X
A A A A
Grade 2 . . X X X X
batch heat-treating operation or under the same conditions in a
A
continuous heat-treating operation, with no lot to exceed 10
X = suitable combination.
tons (9.7 Mg).
6.3 Retests:
made from a test sample taken preferably during the pouring of
6.3.1 Grade 1 Bolts—If the result of the full-section tension
the heat. The chemical composition thus determined shall
test of any lot does not conform to the specified requirement,
conform to the heat-cast requirements of Table 1.
two bolts shall be selected from the same lot for tension tests.
5.3 Product Analysis—An analysis may be made by the
If the results of both tests conform to the specified require-
purchaser from a finished bolt or nut. The chemical composi-
ments, the lot shall be accepted.
tion thus determined shall conform to the product requirements
6.3.2 Grade 2 Bolts—If the result of the full-section or
of Table 1. Note that rephosphorized or resulfurized material is
reduced-section tension tests of any lot does not conform to the
not subject to rejection based on product analysis for these
specified requirements, the manufacturer may re-heat treat
elements.
such lot, not more than two times, in which case two additional
6. Tensile Requirements
full-section and two additional reduced-section tension tests
shall be made from the retreated lot. If all retest results
6.1 Tension Tests:
conform to the specified requirements, the lot shall be ac-
6.1.1 The material as represented by a tension test of a
cepted.
full-section bolt with nut assembled, or by a specimen ma-
6.3.3 If the percentage of elongation of any reduced section
chined from a finished bolt, as prescribed in Table 3, shall
test specimen is less than that specified and any part of the
conform to the respective requirements specified in Table 4 or
fracture is more than ⁄4 in. (19 mm) from the center of the gage
Table 5.
length, a retest shall be allowed.
6.1.2 Full-section and reduced-section bolt tension tests
6.3.4 If during the full-section tension test a flaw is detected
shall be performed as described in Test Methods F 606.
in the bolt or nut that does not permit attainment of the test
6.1.3 Nuts shall be tested by assembling the nut on the grade
requirements, the manufacturer shall be permitted to conduct
bolt with which it is to be used, and testing as described under
sorting or other reconditioning to eliminate the material con-
the full-section tension test for bolts in Test Methods F 606.
taining that flaw, after which the test shall be repeated.
TABLE 3 Required Tension Tests
7.
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