CONTINUOUSLY WELDED RAIL (CWR) TRACK BUCKLING AND SAFETY CONCEPTS

The continuous welded rail is now in widespread use on most railways. The main reasons for their mass deployment is in the numerous advantages over the jointed track (in technical, environmental and economic terms), as well as being one of the basic preconditions for the introduction of high speed services. The main disadvantage of continuously welded tracks is reflected in the limited freedom of expansion and contraction of the rails due to temperature changes. As a consequence, large longitudinal forces induced in the rails lead to rail deformation and lateral and longitudinal displacements of the track. This paper will present a methodology for ensuring stability in the CWR track (leaflet UIC 720), and will make its comparison with the calculation method of the CWR track defined in the applicable regulations, on the lines in operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.