Rail and wheels deteriorate due to accumulated tonnage axle load and speed during operation. Track and wheel degradation is influenced by wheel rail interaction and dynamic load leading to rail and wheel wear, rolling contact fatigue (RCF), rail breaks and derailments. This can cause a huge loss of revenue, property or even loss of lives. In addition to this, there is huge cost involved for repairs and compensation. Therefore, it is crucial for rail players to maintain the rail tracks to ensure reliable, safe and economical rail operation. However, most of the current models are not able to predict degradation accurately due to lack of cost effective continuous and integrated data acquisition system, These are the limitations of current models to detect catastrophic failures in advance using early warning systems for prompt implementation ofpreventive measures. The usage parameter for an accurate prediction model for rail wheel degradation need to consider gross tonnage, speed and curvature such that the damage level based on wear, RCF, defects, failure rate, rail grinding and maintenance can be expressed in terms of effective MGT based on number of axles, actual axle loads, speed and train direction. There is a huge potential to reduce the variation of defect occurrence probability and degradation rate of rail and wheel. Outcome of this research will help in detecting catastrophic failures using early warning systems for prompt implementation of preventive measures. It is important to develop economic sensors to detect important train variables as it affects the overall cost of data acquisition system. It can be further improved to suit the requirements of installation on various tracks and linking real time data acquisition to central data processing centre for condition monitoring, risk analysis and informed maintenance decisions. Authors are currently working in these areas and results will be published in the future.
Development of integrated data acquisition system for condition monitoring of rail tracks
Entwicklung eines integrierten Datenerfassungssystems zur Zustandsüberwachung von Eisenbahnschienen
2004
8 Seiten, 7 Bilder, 10 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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