Today regular rail inspections are almost exclusively focused on the detection of volume defects in the rail cross section. However, the ability to detect and to evaluate existing rail surface defects such as head checks with this technology is limited. Most of the surface defects known today are initiated through rolling contact fatigue (rcf). To prevent rail breakages these defects have to be detected, evaluated and consequently removed before they reach a critical size. Therefore a new non destructive testing technology based on an eddy current testing system has been developed. This new technology focuses on the detection of surface defects as well as their required qualitively and quantitatively evaluation. In order to determine the actual head check damage depth the testing system was calibrated using appropriate damaged test rails. So far only rcf defects at the rail gauge corner (head checks) have been included in the investigation. It is also possible to adjust the testing system with respect to other rail surface defect phenomena. The eddy current testing system is aimed to be applied as a so called hand system (which enables testing at walking speeds) as well as an onboard system for rail inspection trains. Another possible field of application is the utilization as an onboard system for grinding trains which provides a possible means for an immediate quality control of the grinding performance.
On the application of an eddy current testing technology for the detection and evaluation of head checks at rails and switches
Über den Einsatz der Wirbelstrom-Prüftechnik für die Erkennung und Bewertung der Kopfschädigungen bei Schienen und Weichen
2007
10 Seiten, 11 Bilder, 2 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
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