10.14489/td.2025.12.pp.004-017

2025, 12 December

DOI: 10.14489/td.2025.12.pp.004-017

Stepanova L. N., Kurbatov A. N., Beher S. A., Kabanov S. I., Chernova V. V.
DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR MONITORING LONGITUDINAL MECHANICAL STRESSES IN RAILS USING THE EFFECT OF ACOUSTOELASTICITY
(pp. 4-17)

Abstract. Four methods of monitoring internal longitudinal mechanical stresses in railway rails using the acoustoelasticity effect are considered. The first method is based on the use of a loaded rail and its unloaded analog made in the form of a segment. Two piezoelectric transducers were installed on each of them and ultrasonic pulses of longitudinal and transverse waves were introduced. Then the difference in the propagation times of these waves in the rail and its analog was measured, based on which the longitudinal mechanical stress was calculated with an error of 10…14 %. In the second method, a third, separate-combined transducer was placed at an equal distance between the emitting and receiving transducers, the stress in the rail and its height were measured based on the difference in the propagation times of acoustic waves. The accuracy of monitoring increased to 4 %, the measurement time was reduced, since the rail segment was not loaded. In the third method, three receiving transducers were additionally installed on the rail at distances depending on the rail height. Based on the measured propagation times of longitudinal and transformed waves from the emitting to each of the receiving transducers, the mechanical stress in the rail was calculated. In addition, its height was measured, the accuracy of stress measurement was increased to 1,9 %. The fourth method used a railway bogie on which an analogue in the form of a rail section was installed, time delays were measured by connected longitudinal wave transducers. The times of signal arrival to the receiving transducer made it possible to determine mechanical stress in the rail in dynamics. The error in monitoring mechanical stress by this method did not exceed 10…15 %. The advantage of this method is the ability to monitor the entire volume of the rail from the head, neck and ending with the bottom surface, and measurements in the rail and its analogue were carried out in the same climatic conditions in dynamics, throughout the entire monitoring section.

Keywords: rail, stress, continuous welded track, acoustoelasticity, ultrasound, error.

+ - About the Authors Click to collapse

L. N. Stepanova (FAI “Siberian Aeronautical Research Institute named after S. A. Chaplygin”, Novosibirsk, Russia) E-mail: Данный адрес e-mail защищен от спам-ботов, Вам необходимо включить Javascript для его просмотра.
A. N. Kurbatov, S. A. Beher (The Siberian Transport University, Novosibirsk, Russia) E-mail: Данный адрес e-mail защищен от спам-ботов, Вам необходимо включить Javascript для его просмотра.
S. I. Kabanov (FAI “Siberian Aeronautical Research Institute named after S. A. Chaplygin”, Novosibirsk, Russia) E-mail: Данный адрес e-mail защищен от спам-ботов, Вам необходимо включить Javascript для его просмотра.
V. V. Chernova (The Siberian Transport University, Novosibirsk, Russia) E-mail: Данный адрес e-mail защищен от спам-ботов, Вам необходимо включить Javascript для его просмотра.

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