What are the properties of track rail steel?
Jan 20, 2026
Rail track is an essential component of rail track, and its function is to guide the train wheels moving forward by withstanding the enormous pressure pushed by the wheels. Steel rail shall provide smooth, stable and continuous rolling surface for the passing train wheels. In electrical railway or automatic block section, railway track can also be used as track circuit.
Common Rail Steel Grades Worldwide:
| Q235B | Mechanical property | Chemical composition(%) | |||||||||
| Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation | Hardness | C | Si | Mn | S | P | |||
| MPa | kg/mm² | MPa | kg/mm² | min | HB | ≤ | ≤ | ≤ | |||
| ≥ | ≥ | ||||||||||
| 235 | 24 | 375-460 | 38-47 | 26% | 0.12-0.22 | 0.35 | 0.30-0.70 | 0.045 | 0.045 | ||
| 55Q | Mechanical property | Chemical composition(%) | |||||||||
| Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation | Hardness | C | Si | Mn | S | P | |||
| MPa | kg/mm² | MPa | kg/mm² | min | HBW | ≤ | ≤ | ||||
| ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | ≥ | |||||||
| 685 | 69 | 197 | 0.50-0.60 | 0.15-0.35 | 0.60-0.90 | 0.04 | 0.04 | ||||
| Grade | Standard / Region | Typical Composition (wt%) |
| R260 | EN 13674-1 (Europe) | C: 0.67–0.80, Mn: 0.90–1.20, Si: ≤0.50 |
| R350HT | EN 13674-1 (Europe) | C: 0.75–0.85, Mn: 0.80–1.20, Cr: 0.20–0.50 |
| Grade 260 | AREMA (North America) | C: ~0.77, Mn: ~1.0–1.2, Si: ~0.2 |
| Grade 350 | AREMA + Mill Specs (USA/Canada) | C: 0.78–0.83, Mn: 0.90–1.20, Cr: 0.2–0.6, + V/Nb (microalloyed) |
| BH Rail (Bainitic) | JIS E 1101 (Japan), adopted in EU/India | C: 0.65–0.80, Mn: 1.0–1.4, Cr/Mo/Ni (optional, mill-specific) |
| U71Mn | GB/T 2585 (China) | C: 0.65–0.77, Mn: 1.10–1.40, Si: 0.15–0.35 |
| U75V | GB/T 2585 (China) | C: 0.67–0.77, Mn: 0.70–1.00, V: 0.04–0.12 |
What are the properties of Q235B steel?
Q235B steel is a low-carbon structural steel widely used in industrial rails, light crane tracks, and warehouse transport systems. While its mechanical and chemical properties ensure reliable performance under moderate loads.
The primary mechanical properties of Q235B steel allow it to withstand typical industrial and crane loads while maintaining flexibility for processing.
- Yield Strength: Q235B has a minimum yield strength of 235 MPa, which ensures that the steel can resist permanent deformation under normal industrial loads.
- Ultimate Tensile Strength: Its tensile strength ranges from 370 to 500 MPa, providing the ability to endure peak stress before failure.
- Elongation: With a minimum of 26%, Q235B exhibits excellent ductility, reducing the risk of cracking during handling or installation.
- Hardness: The Brinell hardness typically ranges from 38 to 47 HB, giving moderate wear resistance suitable for light and medium-duty rails.
| Classification | Height(mm) | Head (mm) | Bottom (mm) | Thick(mm) | Weight (kg/m) | |
| Light Rail | 8 KG/M | 65 | 25 | 54 | 7 | 8.42 |
| 9 KG/M | 63.5 | 32.1 | 63.5 | 5.9 | 8.94 | |
| 12 KG/M | 69.85 | 38.1 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.2 | |
| 15 KG/M | 79.37 | 42.86 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 | |
| 18 KG/M | 80 | 40 | 80 | 10 | 18.06 | |
| 22 KG/M | 93.66 | 50.8 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 22.3 | |
| 24 KG/M | 107 | 51 | 90 | 10.9 | 24.46 | |
| 30 KG/M | 107.95 | 60.33 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 | |
What are the equivalent grades of Q235B Steel?
Q235B steel, a common Chinese carbon structural steel, has several international equivalents with similar mechanical properties, most notably ASTM A36 (USA), JIS SS400 (Japan), and EN S235JR (Europe), though minor differences in chemical composition and yield strength exist, requiring engineers to verify specifications for critical applications. Other similar grades include ASTM A283 Grade C and IS 2062 E250.
Common Equivalents by Standard
- USA (ASTM): ASTM A36, ASTM A283 Grade C.
- Japan (JIS): SS400 (also used in Vietnam).
- Europe (EN): S235JR (1.0038) (formerly DIN ST37-2).
- India (IS): IS 2062 E250.
American Standard Steel Rail:
| ASTM standard, AREMA standard | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Foot | Thickness | |||
| ASCE 25 | 38.1 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.4 | 6-12 |
| ASCE 30 | 42.86 | 79.38 | 79.38 | 8.33 | 14.88 | |
| ASCE 40 | 47.62 | 88.9 | 88.9 | 9.92 | 19.84 | |
| ASCE 60 | 60.32 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 29.76 | |
| ASCE 75 | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 | 12-25 |
| ASCE 85 | 65.09 | 131.76 | 131.76 | 14.29 | 42.17 | |
| ASCE 90 | 69.09 | 130.18 | 142.88 | 14.29 | 44.65 | |
| ASCE 115 | 69.06 | 139.7 | 168.28 | 15.88 | 56.9 | |
| ASCE 136 | 74.61 | 152.4 | 185.74 | 17.46 | 67.41 | |
| ASCE 175 | 109.86 | 152.4 | 152.4 | 38.1 | 86.8 | |
JIS E 1103/1101 Standard Steel Rail
| Standard: JIS E 1103/1101 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| JIS 15KG | 42.86 | 79.37 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 | 9-10 |
| JIS 22KG | 50.8 | 93.66 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 22.3 | 9-10 |
| JIS 30A | 60.33 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 | 9-10 |
| JIS 37A | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 | 10-25 |
| JIS 50N | 65 | 153 | 127 | 15 | 50.4 | 10-25 |
| CR 73 | 100 | 135 | 140 | 32 | 73.3 | 10-12 |
| CR 100 | 120 | 150 | 155 | 39 | 100.2 | 10-12 |
EN13674 Rail
| Type of | Standard | Dimensions mm | Steel Grade | Mass M | |||
| Rail | A | F | C | t | kg/m | ||
| 39E1(BS80A) | EN13674–4 | 133.4 | 117.5 | 63.5 | 13.1 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 39.77 |
| 45E1(BS90A) | EN13674–4 | 142.88 | 127 | 66.67 | 13.89 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 45.11 |
| 45E3(RN45) | EN13674–4 | 142 | 130 | 66 | 15 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 44.79 |
| 46E2(U33) | EN13674–4 | 145 | 134 | 62 | 15 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 46.27 |
| 49E1(S49) | EN13674–4 | 149 | 125 | 67 | 14 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 49.39 |
| 49E2 | EN13674–4 | 148 | 125 | 67 | 14 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 49.1 |
| 49E5 | EN13674–4 | 149 | 125 | 67 | 14 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 49.13 |
| 50E1 | EN13674–4 | 153 | 134 | 65 | 15.5 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 50.37 |
| 50E2(50EB-T) | EN13674–4 | 151 | 140 | 72 | 15 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 49.97 |
| 50E4 | EN13674–4 | 152 | 125 | 70 | 15 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 50.46 |
| 50E5 | EN13674–4 | 148 | 135 | 67 | 14 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 49.9 |
| 50E6(U50) | EN13674–4 | 153 | 140 | 65 | 15.5 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 50.9 |
| 54E1(UIC54) | EN13674–4 | 159 | 140 | 70 | 16 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 54.77 |
| 54E2(UIC54E) | EN13674–4 | 161 | 125 | 67 | 16 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 53.82 |
| 54E3(DINS54) | EN13674–4 | 154 | 125 | 67 | 16 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 54.57 |
| 54E4 | EN13674–4 | 154 | 125 | 67 | 16 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 54.31 |
| 54E5(54E1AHC) | EN13674–4 | 159 | 140 | 70.2 | 16 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 54.42 |
| 55E1 | EN13674–4 | 155 | 134 | 62 | 19 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 56.03 |
| 56E1(BS113Lb) | EN13674–4 | 158.75 | 140 | 69.85 | 20 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 56.3 |
| 60E1(UIC60) | EN13674–4 | 172 | 150 | 72 | 16.5 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 60.21 |
| 60E2 | EN13674–4 | 172 | 150 | 72 | 16.5 | R200/R260/R260Mn/R300HT | 60.03 |
Key Considerations for Substitution
- Mechanical Properties: Q235B has a yield strength of at least 235 MPa and tensile strength of 375-500 MPa, while A36 is slightly higher at ~250 MPa yield.
- Chemical Composition: Small variations in carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur content exist between these grades, affecting weldability and formability.
- Application: For non-critical structural uses, these equivalents are often interchangeable, but for specialized projects (e.g., marine, bridges), exact grade compliance is crucial.
As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAIL can provide different standard steel rail such as GB,American, BS, UIC, DIN, JIS, Australian and South Africa which used in railway lines, cranes and coal mining.
