This paper describes an approach for characterizing the dynamic behavior of the vehicle/track interaction at railway crossings. In the approach, we integrate in situ axle box acceleration (ABA) measurements with roving-accelerometer hammer tests to evaluate the influence of train speed, train moving direction (facing and trailing directions), sensor position (leading and rear wheels of a bogie), and the natural response of track structure on ABA signals. The analysis of data from multiple sensors contributes to the following findings: the major frequency bands of the vertical ABA are related to the natural frequencies of the crossing; thus, these ABA frequency bands are not greatly affected by variations in train speed, moving direction, and sensor position. The vibration energy concentrated at the major ABA frequency bands increases at higher train speeds, along the facing moving direction and from the leading wheel. The crossing rails vibrate as a combination of bending and torsion rather than solely bending at the major ABA frequency bands, since the vibrations of the wing rails are not synchronized. These results help enhance our understanding of the vehicle/track interaction at crossings and can be used to improve the dynamic response-based system for monitoring the condition of crossings.@en

This paper presents an analysis of the transient contact solutions of wheel-rail frictional rolling impacts calculated by an explicit finite element model of the wheel-insulated rail joint (IRJ) dynamic interaction. The ability of the model to simulate the dynamic behavior of an IRJ has been validated against a comprehensive field measurement in a recent paper (Yang et al., 2018). In addition to the measured railhead geometry and bi-linear elastoplastic material model used in Yang et al. (2018), this study adopts a nominal railhead geometry and an elastic material model for the simulations to provide an overall understanding of the transient contact behavior of wheel-IRJ impacts. Each simulation calculates the evolution of the contact patch area, stress magnitude and direction, micro-slip distribution, and railhead nodal vibration velocity in the vicinity of the joint during the wheel-IRJ impacts. The simulations apply small computational and output time steps to capture the high-frequency dynamic effects at the wheel-IRJ impact contact. Regular wave patterns that indicate wave generation, propagation and reflection are produced by the simulations; this has rarely been reported in previous research. The simulated waves reflect continuum vibrations excited by wheel-rail frictional rolling and indicate that the simulated impact contact solutions are reliable.@en

This paper presents an analysis of the transient contact solutions of wheel-rail frictional rolling impacts calculated by an explicit finite element model of the wheel-insulated rail joint (IRJ) dynamic interaction. The ability of the model to simulate the dynamic behavior of an IRJ has been validated against a comprehensive field measurement in a recent paper (Yang et al., 2018). In addition to the measured railhead geometry and bi-linear elastoplastic material model used in Yang et al. (2018), this study adopts a nominal railhead geometry and an elastic material model for the simulations to provide an overall understanding of the transient contact behavior of wheel-IRJ impacts. Each simulation calculates the evolution of the contact patch area, stress magnitude and direction, micro-slip distribution, and railhead nodal vibration velocity in the vicinity of the joint during the wheel-IRJ impacts. The simulations apply small computational and output time steps to capture the high-frequency dynamic effects at the wheel-IRJ impact contact. Regular wave patterns that indicate wave generation, propagation and reflection are produced by the simulations; this has rarely been reported in previous research. The simulated waves reflect continuum vibrations excited by wheel-rail frictional rolling and indicate that the simulated impact contact solutions are reliable.@en

In this paper, we present a method for evaluating the performance of railway crossing rails after long-term service. The method includes 1) 3D profile and hardness measurements; 2) finite element simulation of wheel/rail interaction; and 3) numerical prediction of rail degradation. We conducted a case study on a crossing that had been in service for several years. The results indicate that the crossing experienced a run-in process in the major traffic direction, manifested as a widening of the running band, an enlargement of the contact patch size, a decrease in contact stress and eventually a reduction in plastic deformation and wear. However, the wheel/rail interaction was exacerbated in the minor traffic direction which induced more severe plastic deformation and wear.@en

Vibration-based condition monitoring is a powerful tool for remotely assessing the quality of railway components. Due to its design, railway crossings suffer from faster degradation, because of the transition from stock rail onto the needle. Since this is also a repetitive load, a small amount of wear will increase the degradation. Measuring the dynamic response also contains information about the transition of the train wheel from the stock rail onto the needle. In this paper, a setup that measures the acceleration and the strain of a railway crossing during train passages is presented. The responses of these two measurement techniques are analyzed for two different types of trains. A linear correlation between the peak values of the strain and the nominal axle load is presented with a regression value of -1.8·10^-5. From the accelerations, both the displacement and the transient wheel-rail contact can be analyzed.

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Due to the significant discontinuity in stiffness and geometry, the insulated rail joint (IRJ) is considered as one of the weakest parts in the track structure. The wheel-rail impact over a joint may lead to track deterioration and increased maintenance costs. The impact load is believed to be closely associated with the dynamic behaviour of track and conditions of track components at the joint section. In this paper, the dynamic behaviour of a typical IRJ in the Dutch railway network is studied numerically. A three dimensional finite element (FE) IRJ model is set up and an explicit time integration scheme is employed to simulate a hammer test conducted on the IRJ. The simulated frequency response functions (FRFs) of the IRJ are then calculated and some typical resonant behaviours can be deducted. Based on the numerical model, the influence of various deterioration types on the dynamic behaviours of IRJ are predicted under the controlled conditions.@en

As vibration based condition monitoring requires a good understanding of the dynamic behaviour of the structure, a good model is needed. At the TU Delft a train borne monitoring system is being developed which currently focusses on crossings. Crossings are prone to very fast degradation due to impact loading. In this paper a finite element model of a free floating frog is presented and validated up to a 100 Hz using dynamic impact measurements. The mode shapes of the free floating frog are then also compared to some preliminary results from an in-situ test. This comparison shows that the in-situ frequencies can be up to twice the free floating frequency.@en