Toward track component condition monitoring using optical fibre Bragg grating sensors

Abstract

Optical fibre Bragg grating sensors have been field-trialed for the monitoring of dynamic loading of fish-plates, stretcher bars and switchblades on a tram network, with the aim of developing a condition monitoring system. This paper provides preliminary data showing the ability to identify changes in track/component condition.

Railway track component condition monitoring using optical fibre Bragg grating sensors

“…As an illustration, the evolution of the strain signature from one of the sensors, attached to the left-hand switch blade of PS1 (PS1 Left, identified in figure (14), is shown in figure 17. The location of the sensor is indicated in figure 15 is highlighted in the "nose array".…”

“…Figure 16. Evolution of the strain measured by a sensor on PS1 Left, identified in figure (14), during the passage of a tram. The month in which each trace was recorded is indicated in the figure.…”

“…In this paper the development and field-testing of a fibre Bragg grating (FBG) based sensing system that is to be used as a means of monitoring rail components at multiple locations on a tram network in order to identify a change from their normal operating condition is reported. Preliminary results were published previously in [14]. The rail sub-components that have been investigated are fishplated joints, insulated joints, switchblades and stretcher bars, the failure of which can lead to catastrophic failure [15].…”

“…Strain signature measured using FBG sensor 3 (identified in figure 4) for trams crossing a fishplated joint at the Meadowhall curve on the Sheffield Stagecoach Supertram network, for fishplate bolt-torques that varied from 320 Nm to 0 Nm. The results for 270 Nm and 0 Nm are reproduced from[14].…”

Identification of characteristic frequencies of damaged railway tracks using field hammer test measurements

“…Such systems could either be mounted on railway vehicles or installed in tracks operating without direct human assistance. For instance, optical fiber sensors, such as fiber Bragg gratings, can be installed to monitor the condition of railway subcomponents [9]. An example of vehicle-borne inspection systems is the Axle Box Acceleration (ABA) system [7,[10][11][12].…”