scholarly journals Identification of Sleeper Support Conditions Using Mechanical Model Supported Data-Driven Approach

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3609
Author(s):  
Mykola Sysyn ◽  
Michal Przybylowicz ◽  
Olga Nabochenko ◽  
Lei Kou

The ballasted track superstructure is characterized by a relative quick deterioration of track geometry due to ballast settlements and the accumulation of sleeper voids. The track zones with the sleeper voids differ from the geometrical irregularities with increased dynamic loading, high vibration, and unfavorable ballast-bed and sleeper contact conditions. This causes the accelerated growth of the inhomogeneous settlements, resulting in maintenance-expensive local instabilities that influence transportation reliability and availability. The recent identification and evaluation of the sleeper support conditions using track-side and on-board monitoring methods can help planning prevention activities to avoid or delay the development of local instabilities such as ballast breakdown, white spots, subgrade defects, etc. The paper presents theoretical and experimental studies that are directed at the development of the methods for sleeper support identification. The distinctive features of the dynamic behavior in the void zone compared to the equivalent geometrical irregularity are identified by numeric simulation using a three-beam dynamic model, taking into account superstructure and rolling stock dynamic interaction. The spectral features in time domain in scalograms and scattergrams are analyzed. Additionally, the theoretical research enabled to determine the similarities and differences of the dynamic interaction from the viewpoint of track-side and on-board measurements. The method of experimental investigation is presented by multipoint track-side measurements of rail-dynamic displacements using high-speed video records and digital imaging correlation (DIC) methods. The method is used to collect the statistical information from different-extent voided zones and the corresponding reference zones without voids. The applied machine learning methods enable the exact recent void identification using the wavelet scattering feature extraction from track-side measurements. A case study of the method application for an on-board measurement shows the moderate results of the recent void identification as well as the potential ways of its improvement.

2020 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 01022
Author(s):  
Victor Philippov ◽  
Alexandr Smerdin

The use of contact elements with an extended service life is one of the most economical and least costly ways to ensure reliable, economical and environmentally friendly transmission of electricity to rolling stock. To evaluate the service life in OSTU, a methodology for conducting experimental studies of contact pairs of pantograph has been developed and successfully tested, involving bench tests for each pair of contact materials “contact insert - contact wire” in order to determine their optimal combination to reduce wear and increase service life. Assessment of the amount of wear and prediction of the life of the contact elements are made, including using mathematical modeling. The purpose of this article is to improve the mechanical component of the wear model of the contact elements of pantograph in high-speed conditions. The results of experimental studies and theoretical calculations of the mechanical wear of contact elements are presented. The analysis of the graphs allows us to conclude that it is possible to use an improved mathematical model for modeling the mechanical component of the wear process of the elements of contact pairs with a maximum error value of not more than 5%.


Author(s):  
Blaine O. Peterson

This paper discusses general High Speed Rail (HSR) track geometry, construction and maintenance practices and tolerances. The discussion will reference several key international projects and highlight different construction methods and the track geometry assessments used to establish and ensure serviceability of a typical HSR system. Historically, established tighter tolerances of “Express” HSR (i.e. operating speeds greater than 240 km/h or 150 mph) systems have favored the use of slab track systems over ballasted track systems. Slab track systems offer greater inherent stability while ballasted track systems generally require more frequent track geometry assessments and anomaly-correcting surfacing operations. The decisions related to which system to use for a given application involve numerous considerations discussed only briefly in this paper. In many cases, the optimal solution may include both track forms. Rolling stock considerations and their influence on track infrastructure design are considered beyond the scope of this paper. This paper will focus predominantly on two slab track systems widely used in international HSR projects: the Japanese J-slab track system; and the German Rheda slab track system. The French track system will be referenced as the typical ballasted track HSR design. The practices discussed in this paper generally apply to systems which are either primarily or exclusively passenger rail systems. In the U.S., these types of systems will necessarily exclude the systems the Federal Railway Administration (FRA) refers to as “Emerging” or “Regional” HSR systems which include passenger train traffic to share trackage on, what are otherwise considered, primarily freight lines.


1977 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 841-848
Author(s):  
G. R. Doyle ◽  
M. A. Thomet

Passenger comfort is an important constraint on high-speed operation in curves and transitions. The effect of track geometry and vehicle suspension characteristics on passenger comfort were investigated with a six-degree-of-freedom, time domain simulation of the car body dynamics. The rail vehicle was simulated at constant speed on transitions and curves to generate acceleration profiles at a passenger’s seat location. The main conclusion of this study is that modern rolling stock can negotiate curves at a higher unbalanced superelevation than is recommended in the current AREA formula without exceeding passenger comfort standards. Also, the minimum spiral lengths as determined by the AREA formula are adequate for passenger cars with stiff roll characteristics, such as the Metroliner vehicles.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Pereira Silva ◽  
Marcus S. Dersch ◽  
J. Riley Edwards

Monitoring ballast support condition and improving current sub-structure and ballast maintenance strategies is critical to ensuring safe and efficient railroad operations. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) have developed a ballast support condition back-calculator, a non-destructive instrumentation method and corresponding analysis tool that quantifies ballast pressure distributions under concrete sleepers without interrupting revenue service train operations. This laboratory-validated non-intrusive method uses concrete sleeper bending moment profile and rail seat loads as inputs to back-calculate the reaction distribution using a Simulated Annealing optimization algorithm that incorporates Pareto Distribution as the random variable generator. In order to further understand in-service ballast support conditions, concrete surface strain gauges were installed on concrete sleepers at a revenue service field site to measure strains that could subsequently be converted into bending moments. This site is on a shared use rail corridor with traffic ranging from high speed passenger to heavy axle load (HAL) freight trains. Rail-mounted strain gauges were used to measure strains that were used to calculate the vertical wheel-rail loads to approximate rail seat loads. This paper quantifies the ballast pressure distributions beneath concrete sleepers under different types of rolling stock and evaluates how ballast support condition changes as a function of accumulated tonnage. A wide range of loads were observed at the field site, ranging from 4 to 35 kips (18–156 kN). Corresponding ballast pressures ranged from 14 to 175 psi (97–1,207 kPa), with sleeper-ballast contact area corresponding to 60% of the bottom of the sleeper area. The accumulation of 12.24 million gross tons (MGT) (12.44 million tons) did not generate a quantifiable change in ballast pressure values nor did it generate a change in the ballast support condition. The research results presented in this paper demonstrate the potential of the back-calculator to provide a stand-alone non-invasive method to quantify ballast support conditions, sleeper health, and sleeper bearing stress. Back calculator data will aid the rail industry in optimizing tamping cycles, enhancing safety, and developing more representative concrete sleeper flexural designs based on actual support conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Grębowski ◽  
M. Zielińska

Abstract The article presents the dynamic analysis of the historic railway bridge in Tczew as an example of the usefulness of such type of bridge for high-speed trains. The model of the bridge and the simulation of rolling stock passage was performed in SOFISTIK program. The scope of work includes experimental studies, the solution of the problem concerning the correct solution features of the dynamic model which takes into account the dependencies between the bridge, track and rolling - stock (RBT). The verification of the model was performed by comparing the results obtained on site during the passage of ET-22 locomotive and twenty (20) open goods wagons with the results obtained in the program for the identical type of rolling stock used to the simulation Pendolino train. Then, after the verification, the simulation of high-speed train passage was performed. The speed of the train passage varied from 150 [km/h] to the max. possible speed of 250 [km/h] which PENDOLINO train, approved for the simulation, may reach. Under the analysis of obtained results it was possible to define the conditions for adjusting the historic bridge to high-speed train passage.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mykola Sysyn ◽  
Ulf Gerber ◽  
Vitalii Kovalchuk ◽  
Olga Nabochenko

The given article considers the method of calculating the track geometry deformation with respect to uneven accumulation of residual deformations along the track. The technique proposes two significant changes in existing approaches to calculating the efficiency of the ballast layer. The transition from the approach of allowable stresses design in the ballast layer to the deformative approach of accumulations of track geometry deformations allows us to draw conclusions regarding the intervals of track tamping and the duration of ballast layer life cycle. The transition from the determinative to probabilistic approaches makes it possible to draw conclusions not only from the average unevenness, but also with regard to all possible facts of unevenness. The method is based on the mechanism of sudden and gradual deformations occurrence, which depends on a number of key factors: dynamic stresses on the ballast, non-uniformity of track elasticity, performance of current maintenance work. Based on the experimental studies results, the dependencies of sudden deformations and the intensity of gradual deformations on the level of stress on the ballast layer were established. The experimental results of the influence of the sub-ballast base elasticity on the intensity of accumulation of residual deformations are shown. On the basis of the developed method, the prediction of track geometry deterioration for a given structure of the track, the rolling stock and the permissible level of geometric deviations for track maintenance is presented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 351-359
Author(s):  
G. I. Gadzhimetov ◽  
G. I. Petrov ◽  
Yu. A. Panin ◽  
I. E. Il’in

To increase the competitive advantages of rail freight transportation, the long-term development program of the Russian Railways provides for an increase in the speed of freight trains. The design speed of freight cars currently operating on the railway network is mainly 120 km/h, and the permitted speed is limited to 90 km/h. One of the possible solutions to the problem is the introduction of freight cars with an increased speed. At JSC “VNIIZHT” and JSC “VNIKTI”, work is being carried out on the selection of structures, the development of safety requirements, theoretical and experimental studies of freight traffic at increased speeds. In 2017—2018 at the Belorechenskaya—Maikop high-speed test range of the North Caucasian Railway, specialists of JSC “VNIIZHT” carried out running tests of a prototype of a platform car for transporting containers with a design speed of 160 km/h, developed by JSC “VNIKTI”. In the design of the platform car, a bogie is used, which is an analogue of the bogie of trailed cars of electric trains ED4 and ED9, with the selection of the stiffness of the springs in the spring suspension steps to comply with the difference in the level of the automatic coupler from the rail head in the “container” and “gross” modes. Analysis of the results of running tests allows determining the ways to improve the design of the bogie. To select design solutions for the purpose of ensuring safety, a review of the studies of domestic scientists aimed at studying the dynamic properties of railway rolling stock with various designs of the carriage part was carried out. Tests were carried out on prototypes of rolling stock having different elastic-dissipative connections in the “body-bogie-wheelsets” system. Based on the results of the analysis, design solutions have been determined that allow achieving satisfactory dynamic qualities for a freight car at a speed of up to 140 km/h. The adopted design solutions were tested on the basis of the results of theoretical studies of the dynamic properties of a platform car with a new bogie, carried out by the method of computer simulation. Increasing the flexibility of the spring suspension and the horizontal connection of the body with the bogie made it possible to improve the dynamic qualities of freight cars. To assess the safety during certification, it is required to develop a standard that would take into account the design features of car bogies, designed for increased speed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 586 ◽  
pp. 269-273
Author(s):  
Chul Su Kim ◽  
Gil Hyun Kang

To assure the safety of the power bogies for train, it is important to perform the durability analysis of reduction gear considering a variation of velocity and traction motor capability. In this study, two types of applied load histories were constructed from driving histories considering the tractive effort and the train running curves by using dynamic analysis software (MSC.ADAMS). Moreover, this study was performed by evaluating fatigue damage of the reduction gears for rolling stock using durability analysis software (MSC.FATIGUE). The finite element model for evaluating the carburizing effect on the gear surface was used for predicting the fatigue life of the gears. The results showed that the fatigue life of the reduction gear would decrease with an increasing numbers of stops at station.


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