CLASSIFYING TRACK BY POWER SPECTRAL DENSITY

Historically, the Power Spectral Density (PSD) has been used as a diagnostic tool and as a classifier in many disciplines. This paper illustrates how this valuable tool can be applied to railway track geometry data to assist in the understanding and management of the permanent way. The PSD can be used to diagnose random and periodic behavior in the track surface (profile). Three parameters are developed that are capable of describing this behavior. Furthermore, the PSD can be used to classify the track. Two of these parameters have a strong impact on the deviations of a 19-m (62-ft) midchord offset. Within prescribed confidence limits, these can be tied to the Federal Railroad Administration's track safety standards. This permits the assignment of the speed class at which the track may be economically maintained without major overhauling.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented at the Winter Annual Meeting of ASME, Houston, Texas, Nov 30 - Dec 5, 1975 and is from ASME Mechanics of Transportation Systems, RRIS 02 128605.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Mechanical Engineers

  Two Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5990
• Authors:
  • Corbin, J C
  • KAUFMAN, W M
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1-20
• Serial:
  • Publication of: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Publisher: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Data collection; Defects; Deformation; Maintenance of way; Power spectra; Railroad safety; Railroad tracks; Standards; Statistical analysis; Structural design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Track geometry
• Old TRIS Terms: Track alignment; Track deformation; Track irregularities; Track safety standards
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00128608
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: AMD-Vol. 15
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 4 1976 12:00AM