24-10-2012, 02:19 PM
Vibration Measurements of Rail Stress. High Speed Rail IDEA Project 30
ABSTRACT
Measurement of contained force in railroad rails is among the most significant issues in rail safety and track maintenance
management, with implications for operation of high speed passenger trains on freight railroad trackage. Current techniques
for that measurement are imprecise, time consuming, and expensive. This project develops a new technique, using rail
vibrations and laser vibrometry, for the measurement of contained rail force. The project has developed a finite element code
ancillary to the technique, it has numerically simulated the measurement procedure to elucidate practical issues that may arise,
and it has demonstrated the ability of the technique to infer load in laboratory and test-bay settings. Preliminary field tests have
also been conducted.
ABSTRACT
Measurement of contained force in railroad rails is among the most significant issues in rail safety and track maintenance
management, with implications for operation of high speed passenger trains on freight railroad trackage. Current techniques
for that measurement are imprecise, time consuming, and expensive. This project develops a new technique, using rail
vibrations and laser vibrometry, for the measurement of contained rail force. The project has developed a finite element code
ancillary to the technique, it has numerically simulated the measurement procedure to elucidate practical issues that may arise,
and it has demonstrated the ability of the technique to infer load in laboratory and test-bay settings. Preliminary field tests have
also been conducted.