Sensitivity of Geometric Parameters in the Sustainability Development of Continuous Welded Rail

Abstract

Continuous Welded Rails (CWR) are a key infrastructure element in the safety and efficiency of rail transportation. Their correct exploitation (operational) requires surveying and diagnostic monitoring based not only on the results of rail displacement measurements, but also on the geometric parameters of the track in the horizontal (H) and vertical (V) planes. Many researchers have proposed different approaches for surveying and diagnostic monitoring of CWR. However, they do not refer to the determination of railway track defectiveness (parametric defects, track defectiveness) respectively on straight and curvilinear segments. Research topics involving CWR constitute a continuous openness to research with particular application of synergy effects in the optimization of monitoring of CWR geometry shaped by exploitation processes. In this study, based on real measurement data of six geometric parameters (H: track gauge, gradient of track gauge, horizontal irregularities and V: cant, twist, vertical irregularities), the most sensitive parameters in sustainable development CWR are defined. The research answered that the most sensitive parameters in the sustainability development of CWR belong in the range of the plane H: gradient of track gauge and horizontal irregularities, and in the plane V: vertical irregularities. These escalate especially on curvilinear sections, requiring more significant maintenance capacity. Due to the growing importance of rail transportation as a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and mass transit mode, the research results provide a basis for life cycle management of CWR.

Influence of different factors on the value of the rail wear rate

“…It has been found that in curves with a radius of 600 m, the wear is 4 times less than in curves with a radius of 300 m [8]. In addition, more than 30 factors have an influence on the wear of the wheels of the rolling stock and the lateral wear of the rails on the curved track sections [9]. This article describes and analyses the following factors: or more [10].…”

“…This includes the processes involved in fitting rolling stock into curved sections of the track, considering both vertical and horizontal deviations, and the impact of these parameters on the life cycle of infrastructure elements. The latter is directly dependent on the geometric parameters of the rail track [9]. The publication also covers the repair of rail defects with a focus on determining hardness parameters in the contact zone [10].…”

Use of Zero-crossings Segmentation for Track Quality Assessment

“…The paper looked at the efficiency of remedial maintenance and the rates of track deterioration on a regional railroad. Also, to identify critical elements for sustainable development, [5] investigated actual measurement data of six geometric parameters of continuously welded rail (CWR). According to their results, vertical irregularities are important in the vertical plane (V-plane), but the track gauge gradient and horizontal irregularities are crucial in the horizontal plane (H-plane).…”

Design Solutions for Slender Bars with Variable Cross-Sections to Increase the Critical Buckling Force

“…Nowadays, the main problems regarding the theory of elastic stability for different types of elements (columns, beams, frames, rings, curved bars, arches, thin plates, and thin shells), were synthesized by S. P. Timoshenko and J. M. Gere in a reference book in the scientific literature [ 2 ]. The loss in stability of structural elements takes place under the action of compressive loads [ 3 , 4 ] or bending (lateral buckling of beams) [ 2 , 5 , 6 ]. The optimized designs of such elements involve modifying geometry in order to increase the critical buckling force and ensure a low weight.…”