This project aims to improve prediction and modelling of rail track
degradation and maintenance so that better performance can be
extracted from the rail infrastructure asset by optimising the mix
of maintenance and renewal activities. Within both government and
private sectors, there is increasing pressure to reduce budgets by
maintaining rail infrastructure rather than the capital up-front
cost of renewal. The project is investigating the relationship
between track degradation and maintenance factors, and developing
relevant benchmarks. There have been three sub-projects within 11/4
including:
a) Frameworks of data collection for effective maintenance
planning.
b) Understanding the effects of rail geometry on track
deterioration, revised to be a study of the relationship between
track roughness and straightened rail welds.
c) Minimising track degradation through managing vehicle-track
interaction.
The work under sub-project (c) was extended as Project 159
utilising further instrumentation of a coal wagon and a NUCARS
model to process data and predict the impact on the track. The
project was independently assessed by STEM Partnerships in 2006 to
have the potential to deliver an estimated value of $15.1 million
risk-free over the next 15 years. Taking into account risks
involved in delivering the technology, the estimated value to the
industry was in the order of $5.5 million.
Progress to date:
- Sub-project (a) - Provided rail organisations with awareness of
general world practice in data collection for effective maintenance
planning, but has had only limited value due to low industry
response to the survey of current practices. The sub-project was
officially terminated September 2004.
- Sub-project (b) - Analysis of straightened dipped welds over more
than two years evidenced no deterioration in any measurable way.
Software from Rail CRC project 5/23 currently being used to make
conclusions about economic value of weld straightening.
- Sub-project (c) - Clear relationships established between the
magnitude of low frequency dynamic wheel/rail forces and the rate
at which the vertical geometry of track deteriorates. In addition,
specific relationships established between vehicle suspension and
body characteristics, and rate of track deterioration. This
sub-project was completed in July 2006.
Future outcomes:
- Sub-project (b) - More rational decision-making processes for
determining rail straightening strategies and overall track
maintenance needs.
- Sub-project (c) - Project completed. Anticipated outcomes: better
design of bogies to reduce track degradation, better scheduling of
tamping maintenance of track to reduce rate of deterioration of
track.
- Adoption of the proposed maintenance practices by industry.
Project Leader: Dr Martin Murray (Queensland University of
Technology)
Project Manager: Mr John Powell (Queensland Rail)
