Model track studies on fouled ballast using ground penetrating radar and multichannel analysis of surface wave

Anbazhagan, P.; Su, Lijun; Indraratna, Buddhima; Rujikiatkamjorn, Cholachat

doi:10.1016/j.jappgeo.2011.05.002

Cited by 41 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The early stage detection of ballast fouling is therefore a crucial factor to extend its life cycle. To that effect, GPR has been successfully used to distinguish clean from fouled ballast [32][33][34]. This differentiation was possible because clean ballast is associated with the diffraction of the electromagnetic waves in its open voids [14].…”

Section: Overview On the Use Of Gpr For Railway Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Railway Track Condition Assessment at Network Level by Frequency Domain Analysis of GPR Data

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The railway track system is a crucial infrastructure for the transportation of people and goods in modern societies. With the increase in railway traffic, the availability of the track for monitoring and maintenance purposes is becoming significantly reduced. Therefore, continuous non-destructive monitoring tools for track diagnoses take on even greater importance. In this context, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technique results yield valuable information on track condition, mainly in the identification of the degradation of its physical and mechanical characteristics caused by subsurface malfunctions. Nevertheless, the application of GPR to assess the ballast condition is a challenging task because the material electromagnetic properties are sensitive to both the ballast grading and water content. This work presents a novel approach, fast and practical for surveying and analysing long sections of transport infrastructure, based mainly on expedite frequency domain analysis of the GPR signal. Examples are presented with the identification of track events, ballast interventions and potential locations of malfunctions. The approach, developed to identify changes in the track infrastructure, allows for a user-friendly visualisation of the track condition, even for GPR non-professionals such as railways engineers, and may further be used to correlate with track geometric parameters. It aims to automatically detect sudden variations in the GPR signals, obtained with successive surveys over long stretches of railway lines, thus providing valuable information in asset management activities of infrastructure managers.

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Section: Overview On the Use Of Gpr For Railway Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Railway Track Condition Assessment at Network Level by Frequency Domain Analysis of GPR Data

et al. 2018

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“…According to Selig and Waters [2], several classes can be identified as principal source mechanisms of fouling: i) the breakdown of ballast, ii) the infiltration from the ballast surface (downward migration of coal dust from commercial trains) and iii) the upward migration of clay fines from the subgrade, are the major causes of fouling. Notwithstanding the increased costs of maintenance, fouling occurrence may dramatically impact on the safety and the operation of railways [3]. In view of this, effective health monitoring and early-stage detection of fouling is mandatory to allow significant reduction of both unsafe events and maintenance costs [4]- [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Entropy-Based Analysis of GPR Data for the Assessment of Railway Ballast Conditions

Benedetto

Tosti

Alani

2017

IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing

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The effective monitoring of ballasted railway track beds is fundamental for maintaining safe operational conditions of railways and lowering maintenance costs. Railway ballast can be damaged over time by the breakdown of aggregates or by the upward migration of fine clay particles from the foundation, along with capillary water. This may cause critical track settlements. To that effect, early stage detection of fouling is of paramount importance. Within this context, ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a rapid nondestructive testing technique, which is being increasingly used for the assessment and health monitoring of railway track substructures. In this paper, we propose a novel and efficient signal processing approach based on entropy analysis, which was applied to GPR data for the assessment of the railway ballast conditions and the detection of fouling. In order to recreate a real-life scenario within the context of railway structures, four different ballast/pollutant mixes were introduced, ranging from clean to highly fouled ballast. GPR systems equipped with two different antennas, ground-coupled (600 and 1600 MHz) and air-coupled (1000 and 2000 MHz), were used for testing purposes. The proposed methodology aims at rapidly identifying distinctive areas of interest related to fouling, thereby lowering significantly the amount of data to be processed and the time required for specialist data processing. Prominent information on the use of suitable frequencies of investigation from the investigated set, as well as the relevant probability values of detection and false alarm, is provided

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“…In particular, laboratory tests for determining the dielectric properties of infrastructure materials have been performed along several years in different countries, as materials used in the infrastructure are different for different design procedures [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GPR Laboratory Tests For Railways Materials Dielectric Properties Assessment

2014

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Abstract:In railways Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) studies, the evaluation of materials dielectric properties is critical as they are sensitive to water content, to petrographic type of aggregates and to fouling condition of the ballast. Under the load traffic, maintenance actions and climatic effects, ballast condition change due to aggregate breakdown and to subgrade soils pumping, mainly on existing lines with no sub ballast layer. The main purpose of this study was to validate, under controlled conditions, the dielectric values of materials used in Portuguese railways, in order to improve the GPR interpretation using commercial software and consequently the management maintenance planning. Different materials were tested and a broad range of in situ conditions were simulated in laboratory, in physical models. GPR tests were performed with five antennas with frequencies between 400 and 1800 MHz. The variation of the dielectric properties was measured, and the range of values that can be obtained for different material condition was defined. Additionally, in situ GPR measurements and test pits were performed for validation of the dielectric constant of clean ballast. The results obtained are analyzed and the main conclusions are presented herein.

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Model track studies on fouled ballast using ground penetrating radar and multichannel analysis of surface wave

Cited by 41 publications

References 22 publications

Railway Track Condition Assessment at Network Level by Frequency Domain Analysis of GPR Data

Railway Track Condition Assessment at Network Level by Frequency Domain Analysis of GPR Data

An Entropy-Based Analysis of GPR Data for the Assessment of Railway Ballast Conditions

GPR Laboratory Tests For Railways Materials Dielectric Properties Assessment

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