Spectral Characteristics of Rail Surface by Measuring the Growth of Rail Corrugation

Continuous interaction between wheels and rails during train operation results in rail wear and tear. Corrugation of the rail surface is particularly caused by the contact mechanism between train wheel and rail and increases the vibration and dynamic wheel load, and if continued, leads to various defects and breakage of the track. Many devices are used to measure corrugation accurately, but measurement deviation varies greatly by measuring device. The most common corrugation measurement system measures surface roughness with a vibration acceleration sensor or displacement sensor. Corrugation with different pitches can be calculated by assuming the longitudinal rail surface as a chord with variable wavelength. Recent systems use a measurement model applying multiple sensors for more accurate measurement. This study investigated spectral characteristics of rail surface roughness based on long time measurement results. In particular, spectral changes upon the growth of rail surface wear and corrugation were analyzed when using the measurement system applying the chord offset method with multiple sensors. The results of analysis were verified through the field subway section, a running track undergoing corrugation, three months after initial measurement, and compared the measurement results according to the number of sensors. Additionally, the rail surface wavelength bands that affected measurement value according to the number of sensors were analyzed.