Communications-Based Train Control: Test Program Challenges

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Diemunsch ◽  
Keith Altamirano
Keyword(s):  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Testing Time ◽  
Acceptance Test ◽  
Test Program ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Train Control ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Program Challenges

This paper discusses two real-world challenges faced by Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) testing programs. a) Why is it that even after a successful complete system Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), the performance of the CBTC system during the first few months of field tests is prone to frequent failures? On some projects, it may be months between a successful FAT and the first operation in CBTC mode. b) How accurately and efficiently can the root cause of failures during the field tests be identified and how could a test program be improved to have a smooth transition from field testing to revenue service. Unlike commissioning a conventional signaling system, where after circuit break down and operation testing are completed, the system works well during revenue service, CBTC projects experience an additional round of ‘surprises’ when the system is put in service after months or years of testing [1]. This comment is valid for both new lines and signaling upgrade projects, it should be noted that signaling upgrade projects are more prone to ‘surprises’ due to the limited track access which reduces testing time. Even though the final test results prior to revenue service indicate no ‘showstoppers’, once system is placed in service, it is common to unearth major issues that impact sustainable revenue operation. Though, as it should, this often comes as a surprise to transit agencies installing CBTC for the first time, it is almost accepted as fate by most of the experienced CBTC engineers. This paper describes the tests performed prior to placing system in revenue service and analyzes some of the issues experienced. Detailed information regarding the field tests can be found in [2]. Description of possible mitigations used by CBTC suppliers and transit agencies are included, as well as likely reasons for such a predictable pattern on CBTC projects. Finally, ideas about how to continue improving the mitigation to minimize the risk of major system issues are presented.

Driving in the Dust: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Field Testing in Degraded Visual Environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1916-1920
Author(s):  
Kayla L. Riegner ◽  
Kelly S. Steelman
Keyword(s):  
Research Program ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Driving Performance ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Ground Vehicle ◽  
Significant Safety ◽  
Dust Clouds

Degraded visual environments (DVEs) pose significant safety and efficiency problems in military ground vehicle operations. As part of a larger research program, two field tests were conducted to evaluate driving aids while indirect driving in DVEs. The current paper presents the results of one of these field tests, and focuses on the challenges and lessons learned in designing a challenging test course and producing consistent dust clouds for assessing Soldier driving performance and workload in degraded visual environments.

scholarly journals State-of-the-Art-Review of Collapsible Soils

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. AL-Rawas
Keyword(s):  
Field Tests ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Dry Density ◽  
Foundation Design ◽  
Treatment Methods ◽  
Collapse Potential ◽  
Collapsible Soils ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Compaction Control

Collapsible soils are encountered in arid and semi-arid regions. Such soils cause potential construction problems due to their collapse upon wetting. The collapse phenomenon is primarily related to the open structure of the soil. Several soil collapse classifications based on parameters such as moisture content, dry density, Atterberg limits and clay content have been proposed in the literature as indicators of the soil collapse potential. Direct measurement of the magnitude of collapse, using laboratory and/or field tests, is essential once a soil showed indications of collapse potential. Treatment methods such as soil replacement, compaction control and chemical stabilization showed significant reduction in the settlement of collapsible soils. The design of foundations on collapsible soils depends on the depth of the soil, magnitude of collapse and economics of the design. Strip foundations are commonly used when collapsing soil extends to a shallow depth while piles and drilled piers are recommended in cases where the soil extends to several meters. This paper provides a comprehensive review of collapsible soils. These include the different types of collapsible soils, mechanisms of collapse, identification and classification methods, laboratory and field testing, treatment methods and guidelines for foundation design.

scholarly journals Screening of the Argentinean INTA peanut core collection with a molecular marker associated with resistance to Sclerotinia minor Jaggar

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
K.D. Chamberlin ◽  
J.J. Baldessari ◽  
E.M.C. Mamani ◽  
M.V. Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Marker ◽  
Core Collection ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Blight Resistance ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Sources Of Resistance ◽  
Sclerotinia Minor ◽  
Sclerotinia Blight ◽  
Potential Sources

ABSTRACT Cultivated peanut, the third most important oilseed in the world, is consistently threatened by various diseases and pests. Sclerotinia minor Jagger (S. minor), the causal agent of Sclerotinia blight, is a major threat to peanut production in many countries and can reduce yield by up to 50% in severely infested fields. Host plant resistance will provide the most effective solution to managing Sclerotinia blight, but limited sources of resistance to the disease are available for use in breeding programs. Peanut germplasm collections are available for exploration and identification of new sources of resistance, but traditionally the process is lengthy, requiring years of field testing before those potential sources can be identified. Molecular markers associated with phenotypic traits can speed up the screening of germplasm accessions. The objective of this study was to genotype the peanut core collection of the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) Manfredi, Argentina, with a molecular marker associated with Sclerotinia blight resistance. One hundred and fifty-four (154) accessions from the collection were available and genotyped using the Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) marker. Accessions from each botanical variety type represented in the core collection were identified as new potential sources of resistance and targeted for further evaluation in field tests for Sclerotinia blight resistance.

The importance of aerodynamics for prosthetic limb design used by competitive cyclists with an amputation: An introduction

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryce Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Field Test ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Prosthetic Limb ◽  
Testing Method ◽  
Competitive Cyclists

Background/Objectives: This study introduces the importance of the aerodynamics to prosthetic limb design for athletes with either a lower-limb or upper-limb amputation. Study design: The study comprises two elements: 1) An initial experiment investigating the stability of outdoor velodrome-based field tests, and 2) An experiment evaluating the application of outdoor velodrome aerodynamic field tests to detect small-scale changes in aerodynamic drag respective of prosthetic limb componentry changes. Methods: An outdoor field-testing method is used to detect small and repeatable changes in the aerodynamic drag of an able-bodied cyclist. These changes were made at levels typical of alterations in prosthetic componentry. The field-based test method of assessment is used at a smaller level of resolution than previously reported. Results: With a carefully applied protocol, the field test method proved to be statistically stable. The results of the field test experiments demonstrate a noticeable change in overall athlete performance. Aerodynamic refinement of artificial limbs is worthwhile for athletes looking to maximise their competitive performance. Conclusion: A field-testing method illustrates the importance of the aerodynamic optimisation of prosthetic limb components. The field-testing protocol undertaken in this study gives an accessible and affordable means of doing so by prosthetists and sports engineers. Clinical relevance Using simple and accessible field-testing methods, this exploratory experiment demonstrates how small changes to riders’ equipment, consummate of the scale of a small change in prosthetics componentry, can affect the performance of an athlete. Prosthetists should consider such opportunities for performance enhancement when possible.

STATIC AND DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A PRE-STRESSED CONCRETE BRIDGE THROUGH FIELD TESTING AND MONITORING

2009 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 711-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. CAI ◽  
M. ARAUJO ◽  
A. NAIR ◽  
X. SHI
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Dynamic Performance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Concrete Bridge ◽  
Bridge Structures ◽  
Dimensional Finite Element ◽  
Three Dimensional Finite Element

This paper presents field tests performed on a slab-on-girder pre-stressed concrete bridge. The bridge was tested under static loading, crawling loading, and dynamic loading. A full three-dimensional finite element prediction under both static and dynamic loadings was carried out and the results were compared with the field measurements. While acoustic emission (AE) monitoring of bridge structures is not a new vista, the method has not been fully exploited in bridge monitoring. Though numerous quantitative methods have been proposed, they have not yet developed to be useful for actual field tests of bridges. Therefore, in this study, an attempt was made to use the intensity analysis technique for damage quantification using the AE method.

Linking Incidents to Customers (LINC): An Algorithm for Linking Incidents to Rail Customer Delays Inspired by Traffic Flow Theory

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110548
Author(s):  
Michael Eichler
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Flow Theory ◽  
Incident Response ◽  
Traffic Flow Theory ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Rail Systems ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Customer Delay ◽  
Impact Zones

Rail transit agencies have greatly advanced the ability to measure delays to rail system customers and have developed key performance indicators for rail systems based on customer travel time. The ability for operators to link these customer delay metrics to root causes would provide great benefit to agencies, from incident response improvement to capital program prioritization. This paper describes a method for linking late train arrivals to both late customers and incident tickets. Inspired by traffic flow theory, the method identifies impact zones in time and space that can then be linked to a potential root cause by way of incident tickets. This algorithm is currently under development by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Office of Planning, and its outputs are being integrated into a variety of operations- and capital-related business processes.

A Portable Slurry Wear Test for the Field

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Madsen
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Electrochemical Corrosion ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Wear Test ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Silica Sand ◽  
Cast Irons ◽  
Wear And Corrosion ◽  
Lead Zinc ◽  
Processing Site

A new portable slurry wear test apparatus developed by the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, makes it possible to gather materials wear and corrosion data at a mineral processing site. The portable wear cell is identical in design to a laboratory cell reported previously. It allows simultaneous evaluation of 16 specimens in a continuous flow of fresh slurry. Data obtained from selected metals and polymers showed high-chromium white cast irons to perform particularly well in tests with an aqueous lead-zinc sulfide ore slurry. However, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene that exhibited superior wear resistance in comparable laboratory tests with an aqueous slurry of silica sand did not perform as well in field tests. Such results show how misleading it can be to use laboratory data to predict relative rates of wear in industrial slurries, even under nominally identical flow conditions. Field testing is therefore needed. In situ electrochemical corrosion measurements on a low-alloy steel showed that the field and laboratory slurries were similarly corrosive.

Best Practices in Operating High Frequency Metro Services

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (9) ◽  
pp. 491-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane Canavan ◽  
Alexander Barron ◽  
Judith Cohen ◽  
Daniel J. Graham ◽  
Richard J. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Very High Frequency ◽  
Train Control ◽  
Rail Systems ◽  
Metro Systems ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Total Capacity ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Very High

Most metro rail systems worldwide are facing increasing demand and the need to deliver additional capacity in key corridors. Although total capacity reflects the combination of train capacity and frequency, increasing frequency is the primary strategy to increase capacity on existing lines where infrastructure is fixed. Higher frequencies also increase efficiency, by attracting more passengers and making existing journeys faster, thereby making better use of expensive rail infrastructure and increasing both metro revenues and wider economics benefits to the cities they serve. This paper is based on a study conducted for the Community of Metros, a worldwide group of metro systems, which surveyed 17 high frequency lines. The paper first documents the characteristics of high frequency lines [with 25 trains per hour (tph) or more defined as “high frequency” and 30 tph or more as “very high frequency”] and presents the various constraints to higher frequency operations, including how they interact and the various possible solutions. Five main categories of constraints were identified, relating to signaling and train control, station and train crowding, fleet, terminal turnarounds, and service complexity. To achieve the highest frequencies, it is essential for metro systems to take a holistic approach and identify not only the immediate constraints but also secondary and tertiary constraints that may prevent the full benefits of improvements from being realized. This paper provides guidance to those operating, funding, planning, and designing metro systems in how to maximize frequency and thereby deliver greater benefits to riders, transit agencies, and stakeholders.

Experimental investigation on the characteristics of the dynamic rail pad force and its stress distribution in the time and frequency domain

2019 ◽  
Vol 234 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Chunfa Zhao ◽  
Xiaobo Ren ◽  
Yang Feng ◽  
Can Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Distribution ◽  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Maximum Stress ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Service Condition ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Parabolic Shape ◽  
Dominant Frequencies

The rail pad force and its stress distribution have critical influences on the performance and fatigue life of the rail, fasteners, and sleepers. The characteristics of the rail pad force and its stress distribution in the time and frequency domain obtained from field tests carried out using matrix-based tactile surface sensor are presented in this paper. The field testing involved rail pads under various axle-loads of running trains at different speeds. The influences that the train axle-load, the operational speed, and the rail pad stiffness have on the rail pad force and its stress distribution are analyzed. The test results indicate that the rail pad stiffness has a remarkable influence on the amplitude of the rail pad force but has little influence on its dominant frequencies. The first dominant frequency of the rail pad force is quite close to the passing frequency of the vehicle length. The stress distribution on the rail pad has a parabolic shape along the longitudinal and the lateral directions with the large stress appearing near the center of the rail pad, and is remarkably affected by the service condition of the rail pad. The maximum stress is about 2.5 to 3 times of the average stress, which is significantly greater than the nominal stress resulting from the assumption of uniform stress distribution.

Materials Interface Interactions Test (MIIT); in-Situ Testing of Simulated Hlw Forms in Salt- Performance of Srs Simulated Waste Glass After up to 5 Years of Burial at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

1991 ◽  
Vol 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.G. Wicks ◽  
A.R. Lodding ◽  
P.B. Macedo ◽  
D.E. Clark
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Waste Glass ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
High Level Waste ◽  
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTThe first field tests conducted in the United States involving burial of simulated high-level waste [HLW] forms and package components, were started in July of 1986. The program, called the Materials Interface Interactions Test or MIIT, is the largest cooperative field-testing venture in the international waste management community. Included in the study are over 900 waste form samples comprising 15 different systems supplied by 7 countries. Also included are approximately 300 potential canister or overpack metal samples along with more than 500 geologic and backfill specimens. There are almost 2000 relevant interactions that characterize this effort which is being conducted in the bedded salt site at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The MIIT program represents a joint endeavor managed by Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., and Savannah River Laboratory in Aiken, S.C. and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Also involved in MIIT are participants from various laboratories and universities in France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In July of 1991, the experimental portion of the 5-yr. MIIT program was completed. Although only about 5% of all MIIT samples have been assessed thus far, there are already interesting findings that have emerged. The present paper will discuss results obtained for SRS 165/TDS waste glass after burial of 6 mo., 1 yr. and 2 yrs., along with initial analyses of 5 yr. samples.

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