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Project 36-161 lead researchers Dr Richard Dwight (right) and Mr
Jiandong Jiang of UoW.
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A high proportion of the cost associated with the operation of any
railway is generated through the wear induced at the wheel-rail
interface. The purpose of this project is to develop an on-vehicle
monitoring system that will indicate areas of track that require
attention, in order to minimise wheel wear and reduce maintenance
costs. Following an extensive investigation of possible measurement
properties to be used to determine wheel wear from a vehicle
mounted sensor, sound was selected as the optimum tool.
The noise generated by wheel-rail interaction can indicate various
track conditions and wear processes that are taking place. Common
conditions are flanging, wheel squeal, wheel rail impact,
corrugations and steel structure noise. The use of sound allows
this project to have multiple outcomes beneficial to industry,
including identifying areas of high wheel and rail wear for
maintenance purposes, as well as locations of environmentally
unacceptable noise pollution for attention which is an increasing
issue in urban areas.
The project team has developed a prototype on-board rail noise and
wear assessment system, with testing undertaken at the
Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI) in the USA in 2005,
and ongoing with industry partners in Australia. Rail CRC is
seeking commercialisation partners for the technology.
The technology was independently assessed by STEM Partnerships in
2006 and was estimated to have the potential to deliver $52.1
million in risk-free-value to the rail industry over 15 years.
Taking into account the risks of delivering the technology, the
expected value of the system is $41.1 million.
Progress to date:
- Extensive review of current wheel wear monitoring.
- Development of algorithm to discriminate between different noises
generated by wheel-rail contact.
- Report on the applicability and limitations of algorithm developed.
- Prototype on-board noise recording/wheel wear analysis system
developed and tested domestically and internationally at TTCI.
- Development of software suitable for use with a wayside system to
classify noise by type and level against time.
- Submitted a PCT patent application for on-board wheel wear and
wheel-rail noise assessment for the direction of track maintenance.
- The technology is being used by RailCorp for the purposes of noise
monitoring and environmental compliance and tested by QR for the
purposes of wheel-wear monitoring.
- TMG is assessing the capabilities of technology for capabilities of
technology for consultancies in Australia and overseas.
Future outcomes:
- Ongoing industry testing of the prototype system for on board and
wayside applications in 2006/07.
- Determination of causes of flanging noise on apparently
well-lubricated curves.
- Continuing commercialisation of technology through the direct
uptake by industry participants, consultancies and the development
of market product.
Project Leader: Dr Richard Dwight (University of Wollongong)
Project Manager: Mr Malcolm Kerr (RailCorp)
