<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper presents an automatic method for detecting vertical track irregularities on tramway operation using acceleration measurements on trams. For monitoring of tramway tracks, an unconventional measurement setup is developed, which records the data of 3-axes wireless accelerometers mounted on wheel discs. Accelerations are processed to obtain the vertical track irregularities to determine whether the track needs to be repaired. The automatic detection algorithm is based on time–frequency distribution analysis and determines the defect locations. Admissible limits (thresholds) are given for detecting moderate and severe defects using statistical analysis. The method was validated on frequented tram lines in Budapest and accurately detected severe defects with a hit rate of 100%, with no false alarms. The methodology is also sensitive to moderate and small rail surface defects at the low operational speed.</p></abstract>

This paper presents an automatic method for detecting vertical track irregularities on tramway operation using acceleration measurements on trams. For monitoring of tramway tracks, an unconventional measurement setup is developed, which records the data of 3-axes wireless accelerometers mounted on wheel discs. Accelerations are processed to obtain the vertical track irregularities to determine whether the track needs to be repaired. The automatic detection algorithm is based on time–frequency distribution analysis and determines the defect locations. Admissible limits (thresholds) are given for detecting moderate and severe defects using statistical analysis. The method was validated on frequented tram lines in Budapest and accurately detected severe defects with a hit rate of 100%, with no false alarms. The methodology is also sensitive to moderate and small rail surface defects at the low operational speed.

A practical approach to tramway track condition monitoring: vertical track defects detection and identification using time-frequency processing technique

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Highway and Railway Engineering

Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Selected Scientific Papers - Journal of Civil Engineering

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

This paper presents an automatic method for detecting vertical track irregularities on tramway operation using acceleration measurements on trams. For...

A practical approach to tramway track condition monitoring: vertical track defects detection and identification using time-frequency processing technique

Published Online: Mar 30, 2018

Page range: 135 - 146

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sspjce-2018-0013

Keywords
tramway track condition monitoring, time-frequency signal processing, vibration, wheel-rail interaction, wavelet transform

© 2018 Péter Bocz et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

A practical approach to tramway track condition monitoring: vertical track defects detection and identification using time-frequency processing technique

Published Online: Mar 30, 2018

Page range: 135 - 146

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sspjce-2018-0013

Keywordstramway track condition monitoring, time-frequency signal processing, vibration, wheel-rail interaction, wavelet transform

© 2018 Péter Bocz et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
tramway track condition monitoring, time-frequency signal processing, vibration, wheel-rail interaction, wavelet transform