Field Testing of Prototype Systems for the Non-Destructive Measurement of the Neutral Temperature of Railroad Tracks

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Phillips ◽  
Francesco Lanza di Scalea ◽  
Claudio Nucera ◽  
Mahmood Fateh ◽  
John Choros
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Rolling Stock ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Neutral Temperature ◽  
Destructive Measurement ◽  
Non Destructive

In both high speed and freight rail systems, the modern construction method is Continuous Welded Rail (CWR). The purpose of the CWR method is to eliminate joints in order to reduce the maintenance costs for both the rails and the rolling stock. However, the elimination of the joints increases the risk of rail breakage in cold weather and buckling in hot weather. In order to predict the temperature at which the rail will break or buckle, it is critical to have knowledge of the temperature at which the rail is stress free, namely the rail Neutral Temperature. The University of California at San Diego (UCSD) has developed an innovative technique based on non-linear ultrasonic guided waves, under Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) research and development grants for the non-destructive measurement of the Neutral Temperature of CWR. Through the licensing of this technology from UCSD and under the sponsorship of the FRA Office of Research and Development, a field deployable prototype system has been developed and recently field-tested at cooperating railroad properties. Three prototype systems have been deployed to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), AMTRAK, and the Union Pacific (UP) railroads for field testing and related data acquisition for a comprehensive evaluation, with respect to both performance and economy of operation. This paper summarizes the results of these field tests, as compared to well-established techniques such as VERSE and strain gages.

Field testing of prototype systems for the non-destructive measurement of the neutral temperature of railroad tracks

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Phillips ◽  
Francesco Lanza di Scalea ◽  
Claudio Nucera ◽  
Mahmood Fateh ◽  
John Choros
Keyword(s):  
Field Testing ◽  
Railroad Tracks ◽  
Neutral Temperature ◽  
Destructive Measurement ◽  
Non Destructive

The Non-Destructive Measurement Instrument for Material Thickness

2011 ◽  
Vol 480-481 ◽  
pp. 415-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shou Cheng Ding ◽  
Wen Hui Li ◽  
Gui Ci Yuan
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Measurement Instrument ◽  
Measurement Range ◽  
Measuring Instrument ◽  
Ultrasonic Probe ◽  
Counter Circuit ◽  
Ultrasonic Propagation ◽  
Destructive Measurement ◽  
Non Destructive

In a variety of materials, the ultrasonic propagation velocity is different. Using ultrasonic reflection principle in the material, the measuring instrument detected the thickness of the measured object. AT89C51 microcontroller as the system core, with ultrasonic probe, transmitter circuit, receiver circuit, counter circuit, LCD display circuit together, completed the measurement of materials thickness. The measurement range was up to a 1.2 ~ 200mm. Practice shows that the instrument is low cost, high speed, high precision, reliability, adaptability, etc. So it has broad application prospects.

Reducing Thermal Reflections for Infrared Thermography Applications on Tunnel Liners with Reflective Finishes

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (41) ◽  
pp. 145-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dewei Meng ◽  
Shibin Lin ◽  
Hoda Azari
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Thermography ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Bridge Decks ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Ceramic Tiles ◽  
Thermal Data ◽  
Infrared Cameras ◽  
Data Acquisition And Processing ◽  
Non Destructive

Infrared thermography (IRT) has been employed as a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) method to detect delaminations in bridge decks by ASTM standards since 2003. Compared to other NDE methods, IRT is fast in data acquisition and processing. In addition to applications on bridge decks, IRT can be employed to detect defects in other structures such as roadway pavements and tunnel liners. Recent IRT applications on tunnel liners with reflective finishes such as ceramic tiles show that the IRT results can be severely contaminated by infrared reflections of the vehicles and the illuminating systems in the tunnels. In this study, an algorithm is developed to mitigate the contamination caused by the thermal reflections in the IRT results. The reflection is reduced by combining thermal data from multiple thermographs. Perspective projection is employed to map thermal data to the same coordinates if the thermographs are taken with an infrared camera moving in the space. The algorithm is proved to be successful by the results from the lab experiments and field tests. The algorithm can work with IRT data collected by vehicle-mounted infrared cameras to achieve high-speed IRT for tunnel liners with reflective finishes.

scholarly journals Investigation of the some problems of running safety of rolling stock on the Ukrainian railways

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 15-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rostyslav Domin ◽  
Iurii Domin ◽  
Ganna Cherniak ◽  
Anatolii Mostovych ◽  
Valeria Konstantidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Technical Condition ◽  
Rolling Stock ◽  
Railway Vehicles ◽  
Running Safety ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Software And Hardware ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Non Destructive

The results of the evaluation of the running safety conditions of railway vehicles are presented by means of computer simulation. Analysis of the possible reasons for derailment by means of performance evaluation of rolling stock and track interaction are presented. The impact of the technical condition of the dampers on the running safety of passenger wagons is considered. The localization of possible damages of bearing structures of high-speed train is determined with the help of calculation of the strength characteristics and the method of non-destructive metallography. There is the information about the development of software and hardware complexes providing an instrumental assessment of the technical condition of railway vehicles. Portable device is proposed for measuring the static load of the wheels of the rolling stock units on the track. The work on creation of stationary devices for automatic wheels fault detection in order to reduce the time period from the appearance of the defect was conducted. The brainchild of the mobile system of controlling running tests and dynamic diagnostics of rolling stock was considered.

The Harvard Fatigue Laboratory: contributions to World War II

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Edgar Folk
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Research Council ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Energetic Cost ◽  
World War ◽  
Cold Chamber

The war contributions of the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory in Cambridge, MA, were recorded in 169 Technical Reports, most of which were sent to the Office of the Quartermaster General. Earlier reports were sent to the National Research Council and the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Many of the reports from 1941 and later dealt with either physical fitness of soldiers or the energetic cost of military tasks in extreme heat and cold. New military emergency rations to be manufactured in large quantities were analyzed in the Fatigue Laboratory and then tested in the field. Newly designed cold weather clothing was tested in the cold chamber at −40°F, and desired improvements were made and tested in the field by staff and soldiers in tents and sleeping bags. Electrically heated clothing was designed for high-altitude flight crews and tested both in laboratory chambers and field tests before being issued. This eye witness account of the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory during World War II was recorded by Dr. G. Edgar Folk, who is likely the sole surviving member of that famous laboratory.

The Evaluation of CFCC Liners After Field Testing in a Gas Turbine: V

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh Kimmel ◽  
Jeffrey Price ◽  
Karren More ◽  
Peter Tortorelli ◽  
Tania Bhatia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Field Test ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Aluminum Silicate ◽  
Life Goal ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
Barrier Coating

Under the Ceramic Stationary Gas Turbine (CSGT) and Advanced Material Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a team led by Solar Turbines Incorporated (Solar) has successfully designed engines utilizing SiC/SiC continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic composite (CFCC) combustor liners. Their potential for low NOx and CO emissions was demonstrated in ten separate field-engine tests for an accumulated duration of more than 68,000-hours. In the first four field tests, the durability of the CFCC liners was limited primarily by the long-term stability of SiC in the high-pressure steam environment of the gas turbine combustor. Consequently, the need for an environmental barrier coating (EBC) to meet the 30,000-hour life goal was recognized. An EBC developed under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) High Speed Civil Transport, Enabling Propulsion Materials (EPM) program was improved, optimized and applied on the SiC/SiC liners by United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) from the fifth field test onwards. Presented in this paper is the evaluation of the field test with a modified EBC using Strontium Aluminum Silicate (SAS) on SiC/SiC CFCC liners after 8,368-hours.

Field investigations into the performance of magnetic track brakes of an electrical multiple unit against slippery tracks. Part 1: Adhesion improvement

2011 ◽  
Vol 225 (6) ◽  
pp. 613-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Arias-Cuevas ◽  
Z Li
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Rolling Stock ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Multiple Unit ◽  
Adhesion Recovery ◽  
Railway Operation

Some rolling stock designed for conventional and high-speed railway operation has magnetic track brakes (MTBs) to have an additional brake independent of the wheel–rail adhesion to be mostly activated in emergency situations. In recent years, interest has grown in some railways towards the possible use of MTB against slippery tracks. However, there seems to be a lack of knowledge on the major benefits and possible side effects of using MTB to overcome low-adhesion conditions. This hinders the realization of a cost-benefit analysis to look at possible implementation. In order to contribute to a better understanding, field tests have been performed with the permanent MTB of an electrical multiple unit in a stabling yard. Low-adhesion conditions have been created by three types of contamination representative of slippery tracks, i.e. leaves, water, and grease. The entire work has been divided in two parts. In this Part I, emphasis is put on the adhesion recovery, in particular the benefit for subsequent wheel (or train) passages. Baseline tests (i.e. no use of MTB) have also been performed with water and leaves. Additionally, an adhesion improver widely used in the Dutch and British railways has also been tested with leaves to allow for a comparison in effectiveness with MTB under similar operating conditions. In each test, the wheel–rail adhesion conditions along the initially contaminated track have been measured to evaluate the adhesion improvement under the different testing conditions.

Field Testing and Monitoring of Rolling Stock Under the New Federal Track and Equipment Regulations

Joint Rail ◽  
2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. Lombardi ◽  
David C. Warner ◽  
Eric T. Sherrock ◽  
Brian T. Whitten ◽  
David W. Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Rolling Stock ◽  
Technical Data ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Equipment Safety ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Passenger Railroad

In the past three years, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued two significant new regulations covering the qualification and operation of passenger railroad equipment. The 1998 Track Safety Standards and 1999 Passenger Equipment Safety Standards provide comprehensive requirements for the qualification and operation of passenger equipment. Among many safety issues, these standards address the response of rolling stock at speed to track deviations, and the potential for derailment and/or injury to passengers. The principles contained in the Safety Standards are also used by FRA to evaluate safety performance of vehicles for operation at high cant deficiency for speeds less than 90 mph as part of FRA’s waiver process. This paper describes the types of static and dynamic tests and equipment that are required with respect to vehicle-track interaction to demonstrate compliance of new equipment with the Standards, and the technical fundamentals behind the requirements. Examples include the National Railroad Passenger Corporation’s (Amtrak’s) experiences in applying for waivers and qualifying new equipment under these regulations, particularly the high cant deficiency testing of the Talgo train in the Pacific Northwest, and the high-speed and high cant deficiency testing of Maryland Rail Commuter’s (MARC’s) MARC-III bi-level cars, Acela Express trainsets and Amtrak’s high-horsepower electric locomotives in the Northeast Corridor. In addition, technical data and procedures necessary to have existing equipment approved for operation at higher speed or cant deficiency are also described. This paper highlights nuances of the new regulations and common misinterpretations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document