Rapid Detection of Track Changes from Onboard Data Acquisition Records

The objective of this research project is to develop a simple yet efficient track stiffness assessment system that can quickly estimate both the lateral and the vertical track stiffness and detect stiffness changes in space and time. The proposed system uses track geometry data and vehicle response data collected from instrumentation already onboard railroad inspection cars or locomotives (e.g. DOTX220, DOTX216). The acquired measurements are processed through the innovative Rapid Vehicle-Track Interaction (R-VTI) calculator developed by the principal investigator (PI) to calculate the track stiffness while the vehicle is moving at its normal operation speed along the track. It is noted that the proposed system simply makes better use of existing data already being collected and does not require any additional instrumentation on the track. The proposed approach facilitates continuous track stiffness assessment along the network in space and time. In addition, it provides the real track stiffness values as vehicles move on top of the loaded track. The success of the proposed research will significantly improve railroad safety by effectively assessing the track stiffness and detecting stiffness changes from existing data being collected from the field without extra instrumentation burden to the railroads or the administration. The proposed intelligent monitoring procedures apply to: (1) real-time monitoring and detection, (2) on-demand real-time monitoring of high-risk areas, and (3) accident investigation to identify possible contributing track conditions. These applications are facilitated by the fact that: (1) the vibration measurements are continuously acquired by onboard instrumentation, (2) R-VTI computes characteristic track responses (an indirect measure of track stiffness) that depend only on the track condition, and (3) the characteristic responses can be correlated to past responses for change detection.

• Record URL:
  https://www.utrgv.edu/railwaysafety/_files/documents/research/exhibit-d_utcrs_usc_rapid_detection_of_track_stiffness_changes_2023.pdf

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $110547
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348340

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  University of South Carolina, Columbia

  502 Byrnes Building
  Columbia, SC  United States  29208
• Managing Organizations:

  University of South Carolina, Columbia

  502 Byrnes Building
  Columbia, SC  United States  29208
• Project Managers:

  Stearns, Amy

• Performing Organizations:

  University of South Carolina, Columbia

  502 Byrnes Building
  Columbia, SC  United States  29208
• Principal Investigators:

  Rizos, Dimitris

• Start Date: 20230601
• Expected Completion Date: 20240831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic data collection systems; Detection and identification systems; Railroad rails; Railroad safety; Railroad tracks; Stiffness
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01897744
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University Transportation Center for Railway Safety
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348340
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Oct 28 2023 8:19PM