FLAW DETECTION IN MODEL RAILWAY WHEELS

The purpose of the report is to present the results of a theoretical and experimental study of acoustic pulses propagating within a model railway wheel. The ultimate goal is the development of a method, using either ultrasound or audible sound, for detecting flaws in wheels that are moving. Ultrasonic pulses have been produced on the tread of each model wheel and an experimental investigation has been made of the propagation in the plate and on the tread surface. Echos from artificial plate flaws are identified, and, using pulse-echo and attenuation techniques, thermal flaws on the tread have been located. Records of pulse arrivals are made by photographing the oscilloscope trace with a Polaroid camera. The behavior of these pulses is shown to be in accordance with the predicted propagation of Lamb waves in the plate region of the wheel, Morse waves in the rim and surface waves on the curved tread surface. Artificial plate flaws have also been detected by differences in the spectrum of audio sound radiated into the air by a wheel excited with a random noise input. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Houston

  Department of Mechanical Engineering
  Houston, TX  United States  77004
• Authors:
  • Bray, D E
  • Finch, R D
• Publication Date: 1971-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 234 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic signature; Defects; Nondestructive tests; Rayleigh waves; Ultrasonic tests; Wheels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Model tests
• Old TRIS Terms: Railway cars; Wheel defects
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039270
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 24 1976 12:00AM