This Standard specifies requirements for the qualification of welds in steel rail manufactured in accordance with AS 1085.1 or rails that are shown to be metallurgically equivalent, for use in railway track. The following welding processes are covered:

(a) Joining of rails by flash butt welding or aluminothermic fusion welding.

(b) Repair of the railhead by arc welding or aluminothermic fusion welding.

The Standard does not provide strength properties of welds for use in design nor cover the welding of austenitic manganese steels.

NOTES:

1 Rail steel is considered to be very difficult to weld for structural purposes. It is not recommended that welded rail be used in applications other than railway track.

2 Rail produced to specifications other than AS 1085.1 may require a separate qualification process. Appropriate testing may need to be determined.