IIW White Paper

While items and directions may vary in different countries over time, this illustrates the importance of obtaining adequate funding and resources to close short-term gaps and meet long-term strategic goals. A task force of professional practitioners at a national level will have to ensure that cost estimates for the needs are reasonable and that the available resources will meet their specific programme needs including programmes for welded bridges identified in areas of research, design, construction, maintenance and operation. These needs should be considered by those who are in a position to fund and support the programme. In summary while engineering details for designing, constructing and maintaining bridges are important, the significance of integrated bridge technology inmeeting short-termgoals and long-termneeds for transporting people and goods safely, economically and efficiently cannot be overestimated. It behoves one to provide adequate resources in meeting programme needs of welding professionals and welding organisations for deployment of available researched information, technology transfer to improve transportation and economy so as to achieve prosperity and security for people around the world. 9.10.3 Hot topics Improved bridge design including review and approval, and inspection techniques to reduce fatigue cracking. Training, qualification and certification of appropriate personnel to achieve this. Research and development of materials and corrosion resistance. Improved global dissemination of information from international and national organisations to industry for improved quality of welded products, monitoring of service life of welded components and training, qualification and certification of welding personnel. Uptake of existing information, technologies, products and processes by developing nations e.g. global positioning systems, accelerated construction, prefabricated bridge elements and systems. 9.11 Rail track sector The European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) was set up in 2001 with the ambitious goal of creating a single European body with both the competence and capability to help revitalise the European rail sector and make it more competitive, by fostering increased innovation and guiding research efforts at European level. The strategic research agenda (SRA), RAIL 21, published by ERRAC has defined major guidelines for the challenges and targets to achieve excellence in operations and increased efficiency in railway systems. Within strategic research priorities of the RAIL 21, innovative materials and production methods , as well as development of light-weight, safe and higher performance tracks and trains directly correspond to the possibilities and innovation of welding and joining sector. 9.11.1 Rail welding Continuously-welded rail (CWR) has largely replaced jointed (fish-plated and bolted) track as the accepted method of rail joining for construction of new railway track, and in maintenance activities such as re-railing, replacement of rail defects, etc. Welding processes in most common use are flashbutt welding and aluminothermic (thermite) welding. Alternative welding processes such as gas pressure welding and electric arc welding are also used, but to a lesser extent.

Selection of the optimum rail welding process for any particular application is dependent on the rail grade and section, location at which the welding is to be carried out, number of welds involved, etc. Other factors

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Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies

Improving Global Quality of Life