Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Testing Parameters in Extreme Cold Temperature

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Language of the publication
English
Date
2022-10-24
Type
Consultant report
Author(s)
  • Anish Poudel
  • Survesh Shrestha
  • Brian Lindeman
  • Glenn Washer
Publisher
MxV Rail (formerly TTCI), Association of American Railroads

Alternative title

Paramètres de contrôle ultrasonore des défauts de rail dans des températures extrêmement froides

Abstract

Minor defects or anomalies in rails can cause breakages when stressed by factors such as increased train tonnage and cold weather conditions, causing a safety risk for railroads. To monitor these defects, railroads are primarily reliant on ultrasonic testing (UT), a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technology. This report evaluated the effectiveness of UT by measuring the effects of extreme cold (0oC to -40oC) on the refraction angle, velocity, and density of ultrasound in couplants and rail steel. Experiments were conducted using a chiller bath inside an ultrasonic immersion tank for non-contact UT tests and using a cold chamber for contact UT tests. The resulting velocity and density values were then used for ultrasonic beam modeling and simulation in rails. Contact UT determined average wave velocities at different angles but also observed data scattering due to erratic readings. Non-contact UT found an inverse relationship between velocity and temperature, but readings were severely limited by increasing signal attenuation losses in the immersion liquid as temperatures decreased. Rail beam modelling results identified the potential for shifted refraction angles resultant from decreased ultrasonic velocities, which can cause a misdirection of the beam and subsequent omission of rail flaws. For this reason, it is recommended that hi-rail ultrasonic systems be calibrated at the temperature of actual environmental conditions at time of testing. Future testing into the characteristics of ultrasonic attenuation changes in liquids and steel as a function of temperature may be pursued.

Description

Minor defects or anomalies in rails can cause breakages when stressed by factors such as increased train tonnage or cold weather conditions. To monitor these defects, railroads are primarily reliant on ultrasonic testing (UT). This report evaluated the effectiveness of UT by measuring the effects of extreme cold (0°C to -40°C) on the refraction angle, velocity, and density of ultrasound in couplants and rail steel.

Subject

  • Rail transport,
  • Railway safety,
  • Climate

Keywords

  • Rail defects,
  • Broken rail,
  • Ultrasonic testing,
  • Rail flaw detection,
  • Defect detection,
  • Extreme temperature,
  • Cold temperature,
  • Rail defects,
  • Cold weather impact,
  • Ultrasound,
  • Refraction angle,
  • Ultrasound velocity,
  • Rail steel,
  • Couplants

Rights

Pagination

1-34

Peer review

Internal Review

Open access level

Green

Identifiers

Government document number
1TJC06XY54SB-1102879366-1899
Other
P-22-018

Report

Report no.
1TJC06XY54SB-1102879366-1899

Citation(s)

Poudel, A., Shrestha, S., Lindeman, B., Washer, G. (2022). Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Testing Parameters in Extreme Cold Temperature. P-22-018. MxV Rail (Formerly TTCI), Association of American Railroads.

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Collection(s)

Rail transportation

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