Allowable Stress/Yield Stress of Rail sections
Allowable Stress/Yield Stress of Rail sections
(OP)
I've been unable to dig up some solid info for the yield stress or allowable stress for crane rails. At this point I've only seen an allowable stress of 32 ksi mentioned with no backup. I'm well below this but I'd love to know if there is any type of source on this so I can sleep at night.






RE: Allowable Stress/Yield Stress of Rail sections
1. Per AISC, crane rails are covered by ASTM A-759 "Standard Specification for Carbon Steel Crane Rails". No yield strength specified.
2. ASTM A-759 references ASTM A 1 "Specification for Carbon Steel Tee Rails"
3. ASTM A 1 appears to reference ASTM A-499 "Standard Specification for Steel Bars and Shapes, Carbon Rolled from “T” Rails"
4. ASTM A-499 specifies four yield strengths, the lowest being 50 ksi.
5. Per "old" ASD (Allowable Stress Design), the allowable stress would be 0.66 x yield strength... approximately the 32 ksi value you have found.
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RE: Allowable Stress/Yield Stress of Rail sections
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers carbon steel bars and shapes produced from standard rail steel. These bars are furnished in the as-wrought condition intended for structural use, or bar and shape uses, where high tensile properties are applicable. These materials are available in four strength levels as Grade 50, Grade 60, Grade 70, and Grade 80.
What circuitous way of having this in a standard. Why it couldn't be in A-759 is beyond me.
RE: Allowable Stress/Yield Stress of Rail sections
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
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