ISO 5003:2016

Flat bottom (Vignole) railway rails 43 kg/m and above

ISO 5003:2016 specifies the terms and definitions, information to be supplied by the purchaser, tolerances for dimensions, length, technical requirements, inspection rules, identification, certification, and a quality assurance system for as-rolled and heat-treated steel rails for railways. ISO 5003:2016 specifies flat bottom (vignole) railway rails with linear mass of 43 kg/m and above, for conventional and high-speed railway track usage. There are 19 pearlitic steel grades specified, covering a 200 HBW to 400 HBW hardness range and including "non-heat-treated" carbon manganese steels, "non-heat-treated" alloy steels, "heat-treated" carbon manganese, and "heat-treated" low alloy steels.

Rails Vignole de masse supérieure ou égale à 43 kg/m

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 06-Mar-2016
• ICS: 45.080 - Rails and railway components
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 17/SC 15 - Railway rails, rails fasteners, wheels and wheelsets
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 17/SC 15 - Railway rails, rails fasteners, wheels and wheelsets
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Completion Date: 21-Oct-2021

Relations

• Revises: ISO 5003:1980 - Flat bottom railway rails and special rail sections for switches and crossings of non-treated steel — Technical delivery requirements
• Effective Date: 26-Jul-2010

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 5003
Second edition
2016-03-01
Flat bottom (Vignole) railway rails
43 kg/m and above
Rails Vignole de masse supérieure ou égale à 43 kg/m
Reference number
ISO 5003:2016(E)
©
ISO 2016

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ISO 5003:2016(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2016, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

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ISO 5003:2016(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Information to be supplied by the purchaser. 2
5 Test methods . 3
5.1 Test items, testing frequency and test methods . 3
5.2 Chemical composition . 3
5.3 Hydrogen content . 4
5.4 Total oxygen content . 4
5.5 Tensile test . 4
5.6 Hardness . 4
5.6.1 General requirements . 4
5.6.2 Surface hardness . 4
5.6.3 Internal hardness . 5
5.7 Microstructure . 5
5.8 Decarburization . 5
5.9 Non-metallic inclusions . 5
5.9.1 General requirements . 5
5.9.2 Testing methods . 5
5.10 Macrostructure . 5
5.11 Ultrasonic test . 6
5.11.1 Testing area . 6
5.11.2 Sensitivity requirements . 6
5.11.3 Calibration rails. 6
5.12 Residual stress . . 6
5.12.1 Test sample rail . 6
5.12.2 Test pieces . 6
5.12.3 Test method . 6
5.13 Fracture toughness (K ) . 6
Ic
5.13.1 Test sample . 6
5.13.2 Test pieces test method . 7
5.14 Fatigue crack growth rate . 7
5.14.1 Test sample rail . 7
5.14.2 Test pieces . 7
5.14.3 Test method . 7
5.14.4 Number of tests and test conditions . 7
5.15 Fatigue test . 7
5.15.1 Test sample rail . 7
5.15.2 Test pieces . 8
5.15.3 Test method . 8
5.15.4 Number of tests and test conditions . 8
5.16 Variation of centre line running surface hardness of heat-treated rails . 8
6 Tolerances for dimension, shape, length and weight . 8
6.1 Dimension, shape and length tolerance . 8
6.2 Straightness, surface flatness and twist . 8
6.3 Weight . 9
7 Technical requirements .14
7.1 Manufacturing methods .14
7.2 Chemical composition .14
7.3 Mechanical properties .16
7.4 Microstructure .17
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ISO 5003:2016(E)

7.5 Decarburization .17
7.6 Non-metallic inclusions .18
7.7 Macrostructure .18
7.8 Ultrasonic test .18
7.9 Surface quality .18
7.10 Residual stress . .19
7.11 Fracture toughness .19
7.12 Fatigue crack growth rate .20
7.13 Fatigue test .20
8 Inspection requirements .20
8.1 Inspection and acceptance.20
8.2 Retest and justification .20
9 Identification .21
9.1 Branding .21
9.2 Hot stamping .21
9.3 Cold stamping .21
9.4 Other identification .21
10 Certification .22
11 Quality assurance system .22
Annex A (normative) Steel grades .33
Annex B (normative) Method for determination of tensile strength and elongation for as-
rolled rails by a correlation .35
Annex C (normative) Microscopic examination of rail steels using standard diagrams to
assess the content of non-metallic inclusions .37
Annex D (informative) Rail profile .42
Annex E (normative) Method for the determination of rail foot surface longitudinal
residual stresses .43
Annex F (normative) Standard test method for the determination of the plane strain
fracture toughness (K ) of rails . . .46
Ic
Annex G (normative) Profile and drilling gauges .51
Annex H (normative) Standard diagrams for the check of the macrostructure of rails in
accordance with ISO 4969 .63
Annex I (normative) Limiting sulfur prints .79
Bibliography .93
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ISO 5003:2016(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT), see the following URL: Foreword — Supplementary information.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 17, Steel, Subcommittee SC 15, Railway rails, rail
fasteners, wheels and wheelsets.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 5003:1980), which has been
technically revised.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 5003:2016(E)
Flat bottom (Vignole) railway rails 43kg/m and above
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the terms and definitions, information to be supplied by the
purchaser, tolerances for dimensions, length, technical requirements, inspection rules, identification,
certification, and a quality assurance system for as-rolled and heat-treated steel rails for railways.
This International Standard specifies flat bottom (vignole) railway rails with linear mass of 43 kg/m
and above, for conventional and high-speed railway track usage.
There are 19 pearlitic steel grades specified, covering a 200 HBW to 400 HBW hardness range and
including “non-heat-treated” carbon manganese steels, “non-heat-treated” alloy steels, “heat-treated”
carbon manganese, and “heat-treated” low alloy steels.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 1099, Metallic materials — Fatigue testing — Axial force-controlled method
ISO 3887, Steels — Determination of depth of decarburization
ISO 4967, Steel — Determination of content of non-metallic inclusions — Micrographic method using
standard diagrams
ISO 4968:1979, Steel — Macrographic examination by sulfur print (Baumann method)
ISO 4969:2015, Steel — Etching method for macroscopic examination
ISO 6506-1, Metallic materials — Brinell hardness test — Part 1: Test method
ISO 6892-1, Metallic materials — Tensile testing — Part 1: Method of test at room temperature
ISO 12108, Metallic materials — Fatigue testing — Fatigue crack growth method
ASTM E45, Standard test methods for determining the inclusion content of steel
ASTM E399, Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness Klc of Metallic
Materials
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
heat
liquid steel melt tapped out of a converter or electric arc furnace which includes, after continuous
casting, a given number of blooms relating to the weight of the heat and the extension of the mixing zone
Note 1 to entry: In the case of sequence casting, the blooms belonging to the mixing zone should be clearly defined.
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ISO 5003:2016(E)

3.2
sequence
any number of heats, of the same steel grade, which undergo continuous casting in tundishes
Note 1 to entry: Tundishes can be used in parallel, if the caster has many strands.
3.3
heat-treated rail
rail that has undergone accelerated cooling from austenitizing temperature during the metallurgical
transformation period
3.4
off-line heat-treated rail
all rolled rail that has undergone re-austenitization for heat treatment purposes
3.5
online heat-treated rail
heat-treated rail that has not undergone re-austenitization after rolling
3.6
rolling process
process between the blooms leaving the heating furnace and exiting the finishing pass
3.7
isothermal treatment process
process whereby blooms are held for a period of time at an elevated temperature for reducing the
hydrogen content
Note 1 to entry: For maximum efficiency, this is as near to (but below) the pearlite to austenite transformation
temperature as is practically possible.
Note 2 to entry: This process is sometimes referred to as “sub-critical” diffusion annealing.
3.8
rail running surface
curved surface of the rail head
Note 1 to entry: It may also refer to any area between both gauge corners (transition points of the head inclination
and the first head radius).
4 Information to be supplied by the purchaser
The purchaser shall provide the supplier with the following information at the time of enquiry or order:
a) the rail profile (by submitting a drawing) and the profile tolerances as defined for the dimensions
listed in Table 3;
b) the steel grade (see 7.2 and Annex A);
c) the straightness class “A” or “B” of rail (see Table 5);
d) the non-metallic inclusion determination method and if applicable: the class “1” or “2” of rail
(see Table 13);
e) the determination of the macrostructure (see 5.10);
f) the lengths of rail (see Table 4 and 6.3);
g) undrilled or drilled rail ends to take fish bolts, and location and dimensions of holes when required
(see Table 4);
h) paint code requirements (see 9.4.4).
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ISO 5003:2016(E)

5 Test methods
5.1 Test items, testing frequency and test methods
Test items, sampling position, sampling numbers and test methods shall be as given in Table 1 and Table 2.
Table 1 — Testing frequency for acceptance testing
Relevant
Test items As-rolled rails Heat-treated rails
subclause
Chemical
One per heat One per heat 5.2
composition
One per heat
One per heat
Hydrogen (two tests from first heat in 5.3
(two tests from first heat in sequence)
sequence)
a a
Total oxygen One per sequence One per sequence 5.4
a,b,d a,c
Tensile One per heat One per heat 5.5
a,b a,c
Hardness One per heat One per heat 5.6
Not required for grades HR200, HR220,
HR235 and HR260A.
One per 100 tons of
Microstructure 5.7
One per 1 000 tons or part thereof for grades
a,c
heat-treated rail
HR260B,HR280,HR310A,
a,b
HR310B,HR320,HR325
One per 500 tons or part
a,b
Decarburization One per 1 000 tons or part thereof 5.8
a,c
thereof
Non-metallic inclu-
b b or c
One per sequence One per sequence 5.9
sions
One per 500 tons or part
a,b
Macrostructure One per 500 tons or part thereof 5.10
a,b or c
thereof
Dimension Whole length Whole length 6.1
Straightness Whole length Whole length 6.2
Surface quality Whole length Whole length 7.9
Ultrasonic test Whole length Whole length 5.11
a
Samples shall be taken at random. When different rail grades are casted in the same sequence, the samples shall be
taken outside the mixing zone.
b
Samples shall be cut after rolling.
c
Samples shall be cut after heat-treating for heat-treated rails.
d
One calculation per heat and one testing per 2 000 tons if agreed between purchaser and manufacturer
Table 2 — Testing frequency for periodic tests
Test items As-rolled rails and Heat-treated rails Relevant subclause
Residual stress 5.12
Tests shall be done for all grades at least once every
5 years or after any relevant change in the produc-
Fracture toughness (K ) 5.13
Ic
tion process. The manufacturer shall only carry out
Fatigue crack growth rate 5.14
testing on a 60 kg/m profile or the heaviest section
produced.
Fatigue test 5.15
Longitudinal hardness test Heat-treated rails 5.16
5.2 Chemical composition
The chemical composition shall be determined on the liquid.
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ISO 5003:2016(E)

When the solid chemical composition is to be checked as a requirement of the purchaser, this shall be
carried out at the position of the tensile test piece shown in Figure 1.
5.3 Hydrogen content
The hydrogen content of the liquid steel shall be measured by determining the pressure of hydrogen
in the steel using an online immersion probe system or the method agreed between the purchaser and
manufacturer.
At least two liquid samples shall be taken from the first heat of any sequence using a new tundish and
one from each of the remaining heats and analysed for hydrogen content (see Table 1). The first sample
from the first heat in a sequence shall be taken from the tundish at the time of the maximum hydrogen
concentration.
When testing of rails is required rail samples shall be taken at the hot saw at a frequency of one per heat
at random. However on the first heat in a sequence, the rail sample shall be from the last part of a first
bloom teemed on any strand. Hydrogen determination shall be carried out on samples taken from the
centre of the rail head, and determined by automatic machine.
5.4 Total oxygen content
The total oxygen content can be determined in the liquid or solid.
If the total oxygen content is determined from the solid rail head, the testing positions are shown in
Figure 2.
5.5 Tensile test
Test samples shall be taken from the rail head as shown in Figure 1.
The tensile properties shall be determined in accordance with ISO 6892-1 by using a round tensile test
piece with the dimensions as follows:
— diameter 10 mm;
— gauge length 50 mm.
In the case of dispute, the tensile test pieces shall be maintained at a temperature of 200 °C for 6 h
before testing.
For as-rolled rails, the tensile strength and elongation may be determined as agreed between the
purchaser and manufacturer by a correlation to the chemical composition based on the statistical data
analysis. The method to be applied is shown in Annex B.
5.6 Hardness
5.6.1 General requirements
Brinell hardness tests (HBW) shall be carried out in accordance with ISO 6506-1. The method used is at
the discretion of the manufacturer.
In case of dispute, the test shall be done using HBW 2,5/187,5.
5.6.2 Surface hardness
The surface hardness shall be tested at position RS as shown in Figure 3.
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ISO 5003:2016(E)

The surface hardness shall be tested on the centre line of the rail head crown. 0,5 mm shall be removed
from the running surface before a hardness impression is made. Surface quality must be according
with ISO 6506-1.
5.6.3 Internal hardness
For heat-treated rails, the internal hardness shall be tested in accordance with ISO 6506-1 at the testing
positions shown in Figure 3.
The internal hardness of heat-treated rails of any steel grade shall be determined on a transverse
specimen cut from the end of the rail. The specimen shall be ground or milled so that the transverse
surfaces are parallel.
5.7 Microstructure
The microstructure testing position in the rail head shall be as shown in Figure 1, and shall be
determined at a magnification of 500x.
5.8 Decarburization
Decarburization depth shall be assessed by means of a hardness test using HBW 2,5/187,5 indentation.
The test shall be
...

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 5003
ISO/TC 17/SC 15 Secretariat: SAC
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2014-10-08 2015-01-08
Vignole railway rails 43 kg/m and above
Rails Vignole et profils spéciaux pour aiguillages en acier non traité pour chemins de fer — Spécifications
techniques de livraison
ICS: 45.080
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS
THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
Reference number
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO/DIS 5003:2014(E)
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
©
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. ISO 2014

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ISO/DIS 5003:2014(E)

Copyright notice
This ISO document is a Draft International Standard and is copyright-protected by ISO. Except as
permitted under the applicable laws of the user’s country, neither this ISO draft nor any extract
from it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission being secured.
Requests for permission to reproduce should be addressed to either ISO at the address below or ISO’s
member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.org
Reproduction may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement.
Violators may be prosecuted.
ii © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

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ISO/DIS 5003
Contents Page
Foreword . v
1  Scope . 1
2  Normative references . 1
3  Terms and Definitions . 1
4  Information to be supplied by the purchaser . 2
5  Test methods . 3
5.1 Test items, testing frequency and test methods . 3
5.2  Chemical composition . 4
5.3  Hydrogen content . 4
5.4 Total oxygen content . 4
5.5 Tensile test . 4
5.6 Hardness . 5
5.7 Microstructure . 5
5.8 Decarburization . 5
5.9 Nonmetallic inclusions . 5
5.10 Macrostructure . 6
5.11 Ultrasonic test . 6
5.12 Residual stress . 6
5.13 Fracture toughness (K ) . 7
Ic
5.14  Fatigue crack growth rate . 7
5.15 Fatigue test . 8
5.16 Variation of centre line running surface hardness of heat treated rails . 8
6 Tolerances for dimension, shape, length and weight . 8
6.1 Dimension, shape and length tolerance . 8
6.2 Straightness, surface flatness and twist . 9
6.3 Length . 9
6.4 Drilling holes . 9
6.5 Weight . 9
7 Technical requirements . 14
7.1 Manufacture methods . 14
7.2  Chemical composition . 14
7.3 Mechanical properties. 16
7.4  Microstructure . 18
7.5  Decarburization . 18
7.6 Nonmetallic inclusions . 18
7.7 Macrostructure . 19
© ISO 2002 – All rights reserved iii

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ISO/ DIS 5003
7.8 Ultrasonic test . 19
7.9 Surface quality . 19
7.10 Residual stress . 20
7.11 Fracture toughness . 20
7.12 Fatigue crack growth rate . 21
7.13 Fatigue test . 21
8  Inspection requirements . 21
8.1 Inspection and acceptance . 21
8.2 Retest and justification . 21
9  Identification . 21
9.1  Branding . 21
9.2  Hot stamping . 22
9.3  Cold stamping . 22
9.4 Other identification . 22
10  Certification . 22
11  Quality assurance system . 23
11.1  Quality system . 23
Annex A (normative) Steel grades . 36
Annex B (normative) Method for determination of tensile strength and elongation for hot rolled
rails by a correlation . 37
Annex C (normative) Microscopic examination of rail steels using standard diagrams to assess
the content of non-metallic inclusions . 39
Annex D (informative) 60E1 Rail profile . 45
Annex E (normative) Method for the determination of rail foot surface longitudinal residual
stresses . 46
Annex F (normative) Standard test method for the determination of the plane strain fracture
toughness (KIc) of rails . 49
Annex G (normative) Profile and drilling gauges . 55
Annex H (normative) Standard diagrams for the check of the macrostructure of rails in
accordance to ISO4969 . 67
Annex I (normative) Limiting sulfur prints . 76
Bibliography . 90







iv © ISO 2002 – All rights reserved

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ISO/DIS 5003
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 5003 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 17, Steel, Subcommittee
SC 15, Railway rails, rail fasteners, wheels and wheelsets.



© ISO 2002 – All rights reserved v

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ISO/ DIS 5003
Vignole railway rails 43 kg/m and above
1  Scope
This standard specifies the terms and definitions, information to be supplied by the purchaser，
tolerances for dimensions, length, technical requirements, inspection rules, identification,
certification, quality assurance system for hot rolled and heat treated steel rails for railway.
This standard specifies Vignole railway rails of 43 kg/m and greater linear mass, for conventional
and high speed railway track usage.
Nineteen pearlitic steel grades are specified covering hardness range of 200 to 400 HBW and
include non heat treated carbon manganese steels, non heat treated alloy steels, and heat
treated carbon manganese and low alloy steels.
2  Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 404  Steel and steel products – General technical delivery requirements
ISO 1099 Metallic materials – Fatigue testing – Axial force controlled method
ISO 3887  Steels – Determination of depth of decarburization
ISO 4967  Steel – Determination of content of nonmetallic inclusions-Micrographic method using
standard diagrams
ISO 4969  Steel – Macroscopic examination by etching with strong mineral acids
ISO 6892-1 Metallic materials – Tensile testing – Part 1: Method of test at room temperature
ISO 6506-1 Metallic materials – Brinell hardness test – Part 1: Test method
ISO 4968  Steel – Macroscopic examination by sulphur print (Baumann method)
ISO 14284 Steel and iron-Sampling and preparation of samples for the determination of chemical
composition
ISO 12108 Metallic materials – Fatigue testing – Fatigue crack growth method
ASTM E45 Standard test methods for determining the inclusion content of steel
ASTM E399 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K of
lc
Metallic Materials
3  Terms and Definitions
3.1
heat
liquid steel melt tapped out of a converter or electric arc furnace which includes after continuous
casting a given number of blooms relating to the weight of the heat and the extension of the
mixing zone.
Note: In the case of sequence casting the blooms belonging to the mixing zone should be clearly
defined.
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ISO/ DIS 5003
3.2
sequence
Any number of heats, of the same steel grade, which undergo continuous casting in tundishes.
Note: Tundishes can be used in parallel if the caster has many strands.
3.3
heat treated rail
Rail that has undergone accelerated cooling from austenitizing temperature during the
metallurgical transformation period.
3.4
off-line heat treated rail
All rolled rail that has undergone re-austenitization for heat treatment purposes.
3.5
on-line heat treated rail
Heat treated rail that has not undergone re-austenitization after rolling.
3.6
rolling process
Process between the blooms leaving the heating furnace and exiting the finishing pass.
3.7
isothermal treatment process
Process whereby blooms are held for a period of time at an elevated temperature for diminishing
the hydrogen content.
NOTE 1 For maximum efficiency this is as near to (but below) the pearlite to austenite transformation
temperature as is practically possible.
NOTE 2 This process is sometimes referred to as sub critical diffusion annealing.
3.8
rail running surface
curved surface of the rail head. Area between both gauge corners (transition points of the head
inclination and the first head radius).
4  Information to be supplied by the purchaser
The purchaser shall provide the supplier with the following information at the time of enquiry or
order:
a) the rail profile (by referring to any other standard or submitting a drawing);
b) the steel grade (see 7.2 and Annex A);
c) the profile tolerances (see Table 2)
d) the straightness class ‘A’ or ‘B’ of rail (see Table 3);
e) the nonmetallic inclusion determination method and if applicable: the class ‘1’ or ‘2’ of
rail (see Table 11);
f) the determination of the macrostructure (see 5.10);
g) the lengths of rail (see Table 2 and 6.3);
h) undrilled or drilled rail ends to take fish bolts, and location and dimensions of holes
when required (see Table 2 and 6.4);
2 © ISO 2002 – All rights reserved

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ISO/DIS 5003
i) paint code requirements (see 9.4.4).
5  Test methods
5.1 Test items, testing frequency and test methods
Test items, sampling position, sampling numbers and test methods shall be as given in Tables 1a
and 1b.
Table 1a Testing frequency for acceptance testing
Relevant
Test items Hot-rolled rails Heat-treated rails
sub-clause
Chemical
One per heat One per heat 5.2
composition
One per heat
One per heat
Hydrogen 5.3
(2 tests from first heat in
( 2 tests from first heat in sequence)
sequence)
a a
Total oxygen One per sequence One per sequence 5.4
a,b, d a,c
Tensile One per heat One per heat 5.5
a,b a,c
Hardness One per heat One per heat 5.6
Not required for grades HR200,
HR220,HR235 and HR260A.
One per 100 tonnes of
Microstructure 5.7
a,c
heat treated rail
One per 1000 tonnes or part thereof for
grades HR260B,HR280,HR310A,
a, b
HR310B,HR320,HR325
a,b
One per 500 tonnes or
Decarburization One per 1000 tonnes or part thereof 5.8
a,c
part thereof
Nonmetallic b b or c
One per sequence One per sequence 5.9
inclusions
One per 500 tonnes or
a,b
Macrostructure One per 500 tonnes or part thereof 5.10
a,b or c
part thereof
Dimension Whole length Whole length 6.1
straightness Whole length Whole length 6.2
Surface quality Whole length Whole length 7.9
Ultrasonic test Whole length Whole length 5.11
a. Samples shall be taken at random but only rails from blooms outside the mixing zone
between heats when continuously cast in sequence.
b. Samples shall be cut after rolling.
c. Samples shall be cut after heat-treating for heat treated rails.
d. one calculation per heat / one testing per 2,000 tonnes if agreed between purchaser and
manufacturer



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Table 1b Testing frequency for periodic tests
Test items Hot-rolled rails and Heat-treated rails Relevant sub-clause
Residual stress 5.12
Tests shall be done for all grades at least
once every 5 years or after any relevant
Fracture toughness(K) 5.13
Ic
change in the production process. The
manufacturer shall only carry out testing on
Fatigue crack growth rate 5.14
a 60 kg/m profile or the heaviest section
produced.
Fatigue test 5.15
Longitudinal hardness test Heat-treated rails 5.16

5.2  Chemical composition
The chemical composition shall be determined on the liquid.
When the solid chemical composition shall be checked on the requirement of the purchaser, this
shall be carried out at the position of the tensile test piece (see Figure 1).
5.3  Hydrogen content
The hydrogen content of the liquid steel shall be measured by determining pressure of hydrogen
in the steel using an on-line immersion probe system or the method agreed between the
purchaser and manufacturer.
At least two liquid samples shall be taken from the first heat of any sequence using a new tundish
and one from each of the remaining heats and analyzed for hydrogen content (see Table 1a).
The first sample from the first heat in a sequence shall be taken from the tundish at the time of
the maximum hydrogen concentration.
When testing of rails is required rail samples shall be taken at the hot saw at a frequency of one
per heat at random. However on the first heat in a sequence, the rail sample shall be from the
last part of a first bloom teemed on any strand. Hydrogen determination shall be carried out on
samples taken from the centre of the rail head, and determined by automatic machine.
5.4 Total oxygen content
The total oxygen content can be determined in the liquid or solid.
If the total oxygen content is determined from the solid rail head, the testing positions are shown
in Figure 2.
5.5 Tensile test
Test samples shall be taken from the rail head as shown in Figure 1.
The tensile properties shall be determined in accordance with ISO 6892-1 by using a round
tensile test piece with the dimensions as follows:
- diameter 10 mm;
- original gauge length 50 mm.
In the case of dispute, the tensile test pieces shall be maintained at a temperature of 200°C for 6
h before testing.
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ISO/DIS 5003
For hot rolled rails, the tensile strength and elongation may be determined as agreed between
purchaser and manufacturer by a correlation to the chemical composition based on the statistic
data analysis. The method to be applied is shown in Annex B.
5.6 Hardness
5.6.1 General requirements
Brinell hardness tests (HBW) shall be carried out in accordance with ISO 6506-1. The method
used is on the discretion of the manufacturer.
In case of dispute, test shall be done using HBW 2.5/187.5.
5.6.2 Surface hardness
The surface hardness shall be tested for position RS as shown in Figure 3.
The surface hardness shall be tested on the centre line of the rail head crown. 0.5 mm shall be
ground from the running surface before a hardness impression is made.
5.6.3 Internal hardness
For heat treated rails the internal hardness shall be tested in accordance with ISO 6506-1 at the
testing positions shown in Figure 3.
The internal hardness of heat-treated rails of any steel grade shall be determined on a transverse
specimen cut from the end of the rail. The specimen shall be ground or milled so that the
transverse surfaces are parallel.
5.7 Microstructure
The microstructure testing position in the rail head shall be as shown in Figure 1, and shall be
determined at a magnification of ×500.
5.8 Decarburization
Decarburisation depth shall be assessed by means of a hardness test using HBW 2.5/187.5
indentation. The test shall be performed at three points in the centre of the rail crown after
minimal preparation of the rail head surface (less than 0.2mm material removed). None of the
hardness test results shall be more than 7 points lower than the minimum hardness of the
specified grade (e.g. 253HBW for 260 grade rail).
As an alternative or in the case of dispute decarburisation depth shall be measure
metallographically.The testing position in the surface of rail head shall be as shown in Figure 4.
The test shall be made to measure the depth of closed ferrite network in accordance with ISO
3887.Photomicrographs showing examples how to determine the depth of decarburization are
shown in Figure 5.
5.9 Nonmetallic inclusions
5.9.1 General requirements
Samples shall be taken from one of the last blooms of the last heat of the sequence. From each
sample 2 specimens shall be tested.
The nonmetallic inclusions testing position in the rail head is shown in Figure 6.
5.9.2 Testing methods
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ISO/ DIS 5003
The test shall comply with the method shown in Annex C.
As agreed between purchaser and manufacturer (see 4e), alternative methods may be used:
- Method A in standard ISO 4967,
- Method A in standard ASTM E45.
5.10 Macrostructure
Macrostructure of transverse rail sections shall be tested in accordance with ISO 4969 or ISO
4968, as agreed between purchaser and manufacturer (information given by the purchaser in 4f).
5.11 Ultrasonic test
5.11.1 Testing area
The minimum cross-sectional area examined by the ultrasonic technique shall be:
at least 70 % of the head;
at least 60 % of the web;
and the area of the foot to be tested shall be as shown in Figure 7.
By convention these areas are based on projecting the nominal crystal size of the probe. The
head shall be tested from both sides and from the running surface.
5.11.2 Sensitivity requirements
The sensitivity levels of the automated equipment used shall be a minimum of 4 dB greater than
the level required to detect the reference reflectors described in 5.11.3. A rail giving an echo
referring to a possible defect shall be separated by means of an automatic trigger/alarm level
combined with a marking and/or sorting system. For possible retesting, the test sensitivity shall
be increased to 6 dB instead of 4 dB.
The system shall incorporate continuous monitoring of interface signals and, if present, backwall
echo signals.
5.11.3 Calibration rails
There shall be a calibration rail for each profile to be tested ultrasonically. The positions of the
artificial defects are given for the rail head, web and foot of the 60E1 profile (see Annex D) in
Figures 8, 9 and 10 respectively. Calibration rails for other profiles with calibration defects similar
to those in accordance with Figures 8, 9 and 10 for 60E1 shall be available.
Other methods of calibration may be used but these methods shall be equivalent to that
described above.
5.12 Residual stress
5.12.1 Test sample rail
The manufacturer shall only carry out testing on a 60 kg/m profile or the heaviest section
produced. For residual stress tests there shall be 6 sample rails, which be taken from finished
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ISO/DIS 5003
roller straightened rails, and test pieces shall be taken from the full roller straightened part of the
rail.
5.12.2 Test pieces
Each of the 6 test pieces from the rail section shall be 1000 mm in length.
5.12.3 Test method
The residual stresses in the rail foot shall be determined in accordance with Annex E.
5.13  Fracture toughness (K )
Ic
5.13.1 Test sample
The rails used for this test shall be of the same profile as used for 5.12.
Three rail test pieces shall be taken from the full roller straightened part of rails from three
different heats and different strands.
From each of the three rail test pieces, a minimum of 5 samples shall be produced.
These samples shall not be subject to any further mechanical or thermal treatment.
5.13.2 Test pieces test method
Fracture toughness test shall be performed in accordance with Annex F.
5.14  Fatigue crack growth rate
5.14.1 Test sample rail
The rails used for this test shall be of the same profile as used for 5.12.
Three rail test pieces shall be taken from the full roller straightened part of rails from three
different heats and different strands.
From each of the three rail test pieces, a minimum of 3 samples shall be produced.
These samples shall not be subject to any further mechanical or thermal treatment.
5.14.2 Test pieces
A three point bend, single edge notch test piece, of the dimensions and location within the rail
shown in Figure 11 shall be used.
5.14.3 Test method
Tests shall be carried out in accordance with the general requirements of ISO 12108.
5.14.4 Number of tests and test conditions
A minimum of 3 tests from each sample rail shall be performed under the following conditions:
— test temperature shall be within the range +15℃ to +25℃;
— R = 0.5 (R = minimum cyclic load/maximum cyclic load);
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— 3 point bend test piece loading span shall be 4 W (see Figure 11);
— cyclic loading frequency shall be within the range 15
...