FEASIBILITY OF FLAW DETECTION IN RAILROAD WHEELS USING ACOUSTIC SIGNATURES

The feasibility study on the use of acoustic signatures for detection of flaws in railway wheels was conducted with the ultimate objective of development of an intrack device for moving cars. Determinations of the natural modes of vibrating wheels under various conditions are reported. Differences in acoustic signatures are found between good and cracked wheels, including spectral changes and variations in the time decay of sound. Various sounds occurring in normal railroad practice, such as rolling noise on welded rail and over joints and retarder screech were investigated. It was concluded that special purpose impacters will have to be used for a servicable device. Pattern recognition techniques were used for selecting good and bad wheels with a computerized processing scheme. A laboratory demonstration system has been constructed and found to be 85% reliable when system malfunctions are discounted.

• Record URL:
  • https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/feasibility-flaw-detection-railroad-wheels-using-acoustic-signatures
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared by Houston University, Texas, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  University of Houston

  Department of Mechanical Engineering
  Houston, TX  United States  77004

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Nagy, K
  • Finch, R D
• Publication Date: 1976-10

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 206 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic signature; Computer printouts; Cracking; Defects; Detectors; Flaw detection; Inspection; Nondestructive tests; Pattern recognition systems; Railroad cars; Sonic tests; Ultrasonic detectors; Ultrasonic tests; Wheels
• Old TRIS Terms: Sonic testing; Wheel flaws; Wheel inspection
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00151221
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-TSC-FRA-76-6 Final Rpt., FRA/ORD-76/290
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FRA-76-6
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM