Application of Ultrasonic Phased Arrays for Rail Flaw Inspection

The average number of Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) reportable broken rail-related derailments between 1995 and 2005 was approximately 28 annually. The annual property damage resulting from the accidents was approximately $35 million Programs cosponsored by FRA and the Association of American Railroads are directed at determining causes of internal rail flaws and identifying applicable nondestructive testing (NDT) technologies that can detect the flaws. Through continued efforts from the joint research program, the development and implementation of improved rail metallurgies and maintenance programs are expected to decrease rail flaws. In addition, through increased reliability of flaw detection technologies, a decrease in rail failures and accidents is expected. The research programs also continue the identification, evaluation, and development of emerging NDT technologies applicable to increased rail flaw detection reliability. Technologies investigated to date include laser-generated ultrasound, low-frequency eddy current, guided ultrasonic waves using magnetostrictive sensors, and ultrasonic phased arrays. Scanning capabilities for phased-array technologies do not currently accommodate real-time dynamic rail inspection at speeds greater than 5 mph. But the method has demonstrated its feasibility for Web, base, and head inspection focused on flaw sizing and characterization. This report provides the results of research sponsored by FRA, through the Transportation Technology Center, Inc., regarding the application of phased-array ultrasonic technology to inspect rail for service induced transverse defects in the head of the rail.

• Record URL:
  • https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/application-ultrasonic-phased-arrays-rail-flaw-inspection
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads

  Transportation Technology Center, 55500 DOT Road
  Pueblo, CO  United States  81001

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Garcia, Greg
  • Zhang, Jinchi
• Publication Date: 2006-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 43p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Defects; Derailments; Nondestructive tests; Phased arrays; Railroad crashes; Railroad rails; Speed; Technology
• Uncontrolled Terms: Time of flight diffraction; Ultrasonic phased arrays
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01051561
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-06/17
• Contract Numbers: DTFR53-C-00012, Task Order 209
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 18 2007 11:15AM