Improving Global Quality of Life

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 in meeting short-term goals and long-term needs 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
134 Improving Global Quality of Life Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies