Zarembski, Allan M.Stone, D. H.Wells, T. R.Armstrong, R. A.2022-02-022022-02-021983Zarembski, A. M., et al, “Effect of Increasing Axle Loads on Rail Fatigue Life”, Rail Technology: Proceedings of the Joint BR/AAR Seminar, Frederick and Round, Nottingham, England, 1983.https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/30242This report presents an investigation into the effects of increasing axle loads on the fatigue life of tangent, continuous welded rail (CWR). Two independent studies were conducted. The first utilized a statistical analysis technique, which obtained probability distribution curves for rail defect data. The second utilized a fatigue analysis methodology for the prediction of rail service life. Both techniques have shown good correlations between calculated results and service experience. The results of both analyses show that increasing the axle load results in an increased incidence of rail defect occurrences, with a corresponding decrease in rail fatigue life for tangent CWR. This reduction is by about 40% of the life of the rail, in million gross tons (MGT), when the loading is increased from 70-ton cars (200,000 lb.) to 100-ton cars (263,000 lb.). This effect, which is seen for both heavy (132 lb.) and medium (119 lb) rail sections, is quite significant, and must be taken into account in future studies and economic analyses.Axle loadFatigue lifeArticle