The use of rail profile measurements for the planning and specification of rail-grinding activities normally involves comparing the existing and desired rail profiles within a rail segment. In current practice, a somewhat subjective approach is used to select a measured profile—usually located near the midpoint of the segment—that represents the profiles throughout the rail segment. Industry-standard rail profile data were used to develop an automated procedure for calculating a representative average (mean) rail profile for a rail segment. The procedure was verified by comparing the calculated average with an expected profile. Then, it was validated by comparing the calculated average profiles of 42 in-service rail segments (10 tangents and 32 curved segments) with the Corresponding median rail profiles for each segment, chosen subjectively. Validation results indicated that the coordinates comprising the mean and median profiles differed by less than 1%, on average. Agreement was stronger for tangent rail segments than for curved rail segments, as expected. Therefore, validation demonstrated that the procedure yields results comparable with current practice while it improves the objectivity and repeatability of the decisions that support rail-grinding activities. The procedure also offers the opportunity for integration with existing software tools to help automate the specification of grinding activities that minimize metal removal and prolong rail life.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Repeatable Procedure for Determining a Representative Average Rail Profile


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2017-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Repeatable dynamic rollover test procedure with controlled roof impact

    Cooper,E.R. / Moffatt,E.A. / Curzon,A.M. et al. | Automotive engineering | 2001


    Repeatable Dynamic Rollover Test Procedure with Controlled Roof Impact

    Curzon, Anne M. / Smyth, Brian J. / Cooper, Eddie R. et al. | SAE Technical Papers | 2001


    Design and Testing of Modular Repeatable Folding Off-Rail Sail

    Gong, Kang / Liu, Licheng / Li, Dongdong et al. | Springer Verlag | 2025


    2001-01-0476 Repeatable Dynamic Rollover Test Procedure with Controlled Roof Impact

    Cooper, E. R. / Moffatt, E. A. / Curzon, A. M. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2001


    Precisely repeatable rotary mechanism

    Johnson, K. G. | NTRS | 1969