Accurate Quantification and Follow Up of Rail Corrugation on Several Rail Transit Networks

Rail corrugation is a serious and expensive problem experienced by transit systems around the world. The rail wear results in reduced rail and wheel life and can lead to urgent safety measures such as rail replacement. The increased noise and vibration emissions caused by corrugation can also be a source of significant community reaction. The European funded research project called CORRUGATION aimed at the design and validation of efficient and cost effective solutions to reduce or eliminate the corrugation problem. In the scope of the European Research Project “CORRUGATION”, which focuses on corrugation in curves with transit vehicles at low speed, an instrument to quantify corrugation was developed in order to study the effect of parameters such as rail support stiffness, rail type and friction modifiers on the appearance of corrugation. This paper consists of two parts. The first part describes the development of a portable, accurate and easy-to-use instrument to measure corrugation. Within the development of the instrument, issues regarding measurement precision and measurement length are addressed. The second part of this paper describes the results of extensive corrugation measurement campaigns at STIB (Brussels metro and tram) and RATP (tram). It is found that in most cases, corrugation wavelengths correspond with vertical track anti-resonances and/or with lateral track and wheelset resonance frequencies. Vertical track resonance’s can be avoided by using highly damped embedded rail or very soft rail fixation. Horizontal track resonance’s can be shifted outside the ‘dangerous’ frequency band (corresponding with 2 cm-20 cm wavelength) by using very rigid or very soft lateral rail fixation.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1931594260
• Corporate Authors:

  American Public Transportation Association

  1666 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
  Washington, DC  United States  20006
• Authors:
  • Vanhonacker, Tom
  • Van Leuven, Andre
• Conference:
  • 2007 Rail Conference
  • Location: Toronto , Canada
  • Date: 2007-6-3 to 2007-6-6
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 7p
• Monograph Title: 2007 Proceedings Rail Conference

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Car wheels (Railroads); Corrugations (Defects); Noise; Rail transit; Railroad tracks; Railroad transportation; Trolley cars; Vibration; Wheelsets (Railroads)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Direct fixation fasteners; Transit vehicles
• Geographic Terms: Brussels (Belgium)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Public Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01051618
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 1931594260
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 12 2007 1:01PM