Application of LIDAR technology for rail surface monitoring and quality indexing

This paper investigates the application of Doppler Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors for the assessment of the top of rail lubricity condition and layer material. Different top of rail conditions are distinguished by the system using a new pair of rail surface indices defined based on LIDAR measurements. These indices provide quantitative representations of the top of rail condition due to the fact that Doppler frequency range and spectral magnitude of a backscattered LIDAR beam are functions of the rail surface figure as well as the light absorption properties of the surface material. Laboratory tests are conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed top of rail indexing operation. The results indicate that LIDAR sensors are capable of detecting and distinguishing between different top of rail surface conditions. Instrumenting rail inspection vehicles with Doppler LIDAR systems reduces reliance on empirical top of rail lubricity and surface assessments (such as observing the sheen of the rail or tactilely sensing various residues on the rail), in favor of reliable and repeatable measurements.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1177/0954409717727200
• Record URL:
  • http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0954409717727200
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09544097
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications, Ltd.
• Authors:
  • Taheri Andani, Masood
  • Mohammed, Abdullah
  • Jain, Ashish
  • Ahmadian, Mehdi
• Publication Date: 2018-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 1398-1406
• Serial:
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit
  • Volume: 232
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Sage Publications Limited
  • ISSN: 0954-4097
  • EISSN: 2041-3017
  • Serial URL: http://pif.sagepub.com/content/current

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Friction; Inspection; Laser radar; Monitoring; Rail lubrication; Railroad rails; Surfaces
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01669511
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 2018 5:11PM