Real time detection of low adhesion in the wheel/rail contact. (November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hubbard, Peter; Ward, Chris; Dixon, Roger; Goodall, Roger
• Other Names: Iwnicki Simon guest-editor.; Dennis Colin guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Volume 227:Number 6(2013)
• Page Start: 623
• Page End: 634
• Publication Date: 2013-11
• Subjects: Railways -- vehicle dynamics -- Kalman filters -- low adhesion; Railroads -- Periodicals; Personal rapid transit -- Periodicals; 625.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0954409713503634
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-4097

Abstract

Condition monitoring of railway vehicles has been highlighted by the railway industry as a key enabling technology for future system development. The primary uses for this could be the improvement of maintenance procedures and/or the identification of high-risk vehicle running conditions. Advanced processing of signals means these tasks could be accomplished without the use of cost prohibitive sensors. This paper presents a system for the on-board detection of low-adhesion conditions during the normal operation of a railway vehicle. Two different processing methods are introduced. The first method is a model-based approach that uses a Kalman–Bucy filter to estimate creep forces, with subsequent post processing for interpretation into adhesion levels. The second non model-based method targets the assessment of relationships between vehicle dynamic responses to observe any behavioural differences as a result of an adhesion-level change. Both methods are evaluated in specific case studies using a British Rail (BR) Mark 3 coach, inclusive of a BR BT-10 bogie, and a generic modern passenger vehicle based on a contemporary bogie design. These vehicles were chosen as typical application opportunities within the UK. The results are validated with data generated by the multi-body simulation software VAMPIRE® for realistic data inputs, representing a key scientific achievement.