ASTM A729/A729M-15

Standard Specification for Carbon and Alloy Steel Axles, Heat-Treated, for Mass Transit and Electric Railway Service

ABSTRACT
This specification deals with the standard requirements for heat-treated alloy steel axles and solid design roller bearing axles with machined bodies for mass transit and commuter cars in electric and locomotive hauled railway service. Various axle designs are used for this service including motor and non-motor with either inboard or outboard journals. Materials shall be forged, cooled and heat treated by normalizing, liquid quenching, tempering, and straightening. Steels shall conform to chemical composition requirements specified for each of the seven classes considered here. Conformance to mechanical property requirements such as tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and reduction of area, shall be evaluated by tensile tests. Details of nondestructive ultrasonic and magnetic particle examination procedures are discussed thoroughly. Final axle products shall conform to purchaser-specified size, shape, and finish. Rough machining shall be free of excessively rough ridges and coarse chatter marks, and the finish machined axle surfaces shall be free of injurious imperfections.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers heat-treated carbon and alloy steel axles for mass transit and commuter cars in electric and locomotive hauled railway service.  
1.2 This specification is for solid design roller bearing axles with machined bodies.  
1.3 Various axle designs are used for this service including motor and non-motor with either inboard or outboard journals.  
1.4 Supplementary requirements including those in the general requirements of Specification A788/A788M are provided for use when additional testing or inspection is desired. These shall apply only when specified individually by the purchaser in the order.  
1.5 Unless the order specifies the applicable “M” specification designation, the axles shall be furnished to the inch-pound units.  
1.6 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-May-2015
• ICS: 45.040 - Materials and components for railway engineering
• Technical Committee: A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys
• Drafting Committee: A01.06 - Steel Forgings and Billets

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM A729/A729M-09(2014) - Standard Specification for Alloy Steel Axles, Heat-Treated, for Mass Transit and Electric Railway Service
• Effective Date: 15-May-2015
• Replaced By: ASTM A729/A729M-15e1 - Standard Specification for Carbon and Alloy Steel Axles, Heat-Treated, for Mass Transit and Electric Railway Service
• Effective Date: 15-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM A788/A788M-23 - Standard Specification for Steel Forgings, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 15-May-2015

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: A729/A729M −15
StandardSpecification for
Carbon and Alloy Steel Axles, Heat-Treated, for Mass Transit
1
and Electric Railway Service
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA729/A729M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* A788/A788M Specification for Steel Forgings, General Re-
quirements
1.1 This specification covers heat-treated carbon and alloy
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
steel axles for mass transit and commuter cars in electric and
E381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets,
locomotive hauled railway service.
Blooms, and Forgings
1.2 This specification is for solid design roller bearing axles
E1426 Test Method for Determining the X-Ray Elastic
with machined bodies.
Constants for Use in the Measurement of Residual Stress
Using X-Ray Diffraction Techniques
1.3 Various axle designs are used for this service including
3
motor and non-motor with either inboard or outboard journals.
2.2 Other Standards:
AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Prac-
1.4 Supplementary requirements including those in the gen-
tices Wheels and Axles
eral requirements of Specification A788/A788M are provided
for use when additional testing or inspection is desired. These
3. Terminology
shall apply only when specified individually by the purchaser
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
in the order.
3.1.1 class—the set of chemical requirements for the steel to
1.5 Unless the order specifies the applicable “M” specifica-
be used for the axles to be supplied.
tion designation, the axles shall be furnished to the inch-pound
3.1.2 grade—the designation of the specific set of mechani-
units.
cal properties selected for the axle(s) to be supplied. The grade
1.6 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
is selected based on the axle design and service requirements.
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
3.2 Users of this specification are cautioned that the above
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
terms may be used differently in other industry standards and
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
purchaser ordering information. Producers and purchasers
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
should ensure that both parties are in agreement regarding the
with the standard.
specific mechanical and chemical requirements for the axles to
2. Referenced Documents
be supplied.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4. Ordering Information
A29/A29M SpecificationforGeneralRequirementsforSteel
4.1 Material supplied to this specification shall conform to
Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought
the requirements of Specification A788/A788M, which out-
A275/A275M Practice for Magnetic Particle Examination of
lines ordering information, manufacturing requirements, test-
Steel Forgings
ing and retesting methods and procedures, marking,
A388/A388M Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Steel
certification,productanalysisvariations,andadditionalsupple-
Forgings
mentary requirements.
4.1.1 If the requirements of this specification are in conflict
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
with the requirements of Specification A788/A788M, then the
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
requirements of this specification shall prevail.
A01.06 on Steel Forgings and Billets.
Current edition approved May 15, 2015. Published June 2015. Originally
4.2 In addition to the ordering information required by
approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as A729/
Specification A788/A788M, the purchaser should include with
A729M – 09(2014). DOI: 10.1520/A0729_A0729M-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Association of American Railroads (AAR), 425 Third St., SW,
the ASTM website. Washington, DC 20024, http://www.aar.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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A729/A729M − 15
the inquiry and order a detailed drawing, sketch or written the axles shall be cooled in still air to under 500°F [260°C].
description of the axle showing complete details pertaining to They shall then be reheated into the austenitic range to the
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: A729/A729M − 09 (Reapproved 2014) A729/A729M − 15
Standard Specification for
Carbon and Alloy Steel Axles, Heat-Treated, for Mass Transit
1
and Electric Railway Service
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A729/A729M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This specification covers heat-treated carbon and alloy steel axles for mass transit and commuter cars in electric and
locomotive hauled railway service.
1.2 This specification is for solid design roller bearing axles with machined bodies.
1.3 Various axle designs are used for this service including motor and non-motor with either inboard or outboard journals.
1.4 Supplementary requirements including those in the general requirements of Specification A788/A788M are provided for use
when additional testing or inspection is desired. These shall apply only when specified individually by the purchaser in the order.
1.5 Unless the order specifies the applicable “M” specification designation, the axles shall be furnished to the inch-pound units.
1.6 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A29/A29M Specification for General Requirements for Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought
A275/A275M Practice for Magnetic Particle Examination of Steel Forgings
A388/A388M Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Steel Forgings
A788/A788M Specification for Steel Forgings, General Requirements
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
E381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets, Blooms, and Forgings
E1426 Test Method for Determining the X-Ray Elastic Constants for Use in the Measurement of Residual Stress Using X-Ray
Diffraction Techniques
3
2.2 Other Standards:
AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices Wheels and Axles
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 class—the set of chemical requirements for the steel to be used for the axles to be supplied.
3.1.2 grade—the designation of the specific set of mechanical properties selected for the axle(s) to be supplied. The grade is
selected based on the axle design and service requirements.
3.2 Users of this specification are cautioned that the above terms may be used differently in other industry standards and
purchaser ordering information. Producers and purchasers should ensure that both parties are in agreement regarding the specific
mechanical and chemical requirements for the axles to be supplied.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.06
on Steel Forgings and Billets.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2014May 15, 2015. Published October 2014June 2015. Originally approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 20092014 as
ϵ1
A729/A729M – 09 .(2014). DOI: 10.1520/A0729_A0729M-09R14.10.1520/A0729_A0729M-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from Association of American Railroads (AAR), 425 Third St., SW, Washington, DC 20024, http://www.aar.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
A729/A729M − 15
4. Ordering Information
4.1 Material supplied to this specification shall conform to the requirements of Specification A788/A788M, which outlines
ordering information, manufacturing requirements, testing and retesting methods and procedures, marking, certification, product
analysis variations, and additional supplementary requirements.
4.1.1 If the requirements of this specification are in conflict with the requirements of Specification A788/A788M, then the
requirements of this specification s
...