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2018 | Book

Introduction Read chapter Read first chapter

Rail Crack Monitoring Using Acoustic Emission Technique

Author: Dr. Dan Li

Publisher: Springer Singapore

Book Series : Springer Theses

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik"

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About this book

This thesis provides an innovative strategy for rail crack monitoring using the acoustic emission (AE) technique. The field study presented is a significant improvement on laboratory studies in the literature in terms of complex rail profile and crack conditions as well as high operational noise. AE waves induced by crack propagation, crack closure, wheel-rail impact and operational noise were obtained through a series of laboratory and field tests, and analyzed by wavelet transform (WT) and synchrosqueezed wavelet transform (SWT). A wavelet power-based index and the enhanced SWT scalogram were sequentially proposed to classify AE waves induced by different mechanisms according to their energy distributions in the time–frequency domain. A novel crack sizing method taking advantage of crack closure-induced AE waves was developed based on fatigue tests in the laboratory. The propagation characteristics of AE waves in the rail were investigated, and Tsallis synchrosqueezed wavelet entropy (TSWE) with time was finally brought forward to detect and locate rail cracks in the field. The proposed strategy for detection, location and sizing of rail cracks helps to ensure the safe and smooth operation of the railway system. This thesis is of interest to graduate students, researchers and practitioners in the area of structural health monitoring.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction
Abstract
In order to realize a safe and smooth operation of the railway system, this thesis focuses on the rail crack monitoring using AE technique. This chapter describes the rationale and motivation behind this thesis, listing the research objectives, and the new contributions made to existing body of knowledge and practice.
Dan Li
Chapter 2. Literature Review
Abstract
This chapter reviews literature relevant to rail crack monitoring, which includes an overview of common defects in rail track, a summary of current rail condition monitoring techniques, an introduction of AE technique and its potential in rail crack monitoring, and discussions of the way forward.
Dan Li
Chapter 3. Propagation Features and Source Location
Abstract
As highlighted in the previous chapter, research on rail crack monitoring using AE technique to date is limited to mainly laboratory studies, such as fatigue tests and small-scale test rigs. Little attention has been paid to the propagation features and source location of crack-induced AE waves in the real rail track as well as the influence of operational noise on robustness and reliability of the technique for crack detection under field environment, which are important considerations for implementation of rail crack monitoring in practice.
Dan Li
Chapter 4. Sizing of Fatigue Cracks
Abstract
AE technique has been widely applied to detect and locate fatigue cracks in metallic structures. However, it is still a challenging task to accurately quantify the size of a fatigue crack using AE technique (Gagar et al., Smart Mater Struct 23(10):105033, 2014). The prospects of AE technique in rail crack monitoring would be significantly improved if it could be demonstrated not only as a means for identifying the existence of cracks but also for estimating their sizes. This chapter thus investigates the crack sizing method based on fatigue tests in the laboratory.
Dan Li
Chapter 5. Field Monitoring of Rail Cracks
Abstract
Following encouraging results from the PLB test and fatigue tests performed under controlled conditions, the study was taken forward by deploying AE technique to monitor cracks in rail track in the field. Here, tests were carried out on actual rail tracks to acquire AE signals in the presence of high operational noise. In view of the noisy environment, the methodology for crack identification and location had to be improved. This chapter outlines the modifications and improvements in signal processing algorithms developed in this study to overcome the challenges encountered in field implementation.
Dan Li
Chapter 6. Conclusions and Future Work
Abstract
With the aim of realizing a safe and smooth operation of the railway system, this thesis focuses on the rail crack monitoring using AE technique. The study begins with controlled laboratory and field experimental work where PLB-simulated AE sources were used to simulate cracks in rail track and fatigue cracks were created in rail steel specimens. After that, the study continues with field experimental work where real cracks in rail track were used for testing in the presence of high operational noise. A rail crack monitoring strategy was proposed, comprising of a noise cancellation method, an AE wave classification method, a crack sizing method and a crack identification and location method. The main conclusions and recommendations for future work are summarized in this chapter.
Dan Li
Metadata
Title
Rail Crack Monitoring Using Acoustic Emission Technique
Author
Dr. Dan Li
Copyright Year
2018
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Electronic ISBN
978-981-10-8348-8
Print ISBN
978-981-10-8347-1
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8348-8

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