Eric Magel
NRC-Canada
Abstract:
Quantifying Rail Surface Fatigue with Electromagnetic Walking Sticks
Several electromagnetic based walking sticks are now commercially available for measuring the depth of surface cracking in rails. Extensive work in Europe has shown them to be sufficiently accurate and consistent for this purpose. But trials on North American steels are proving challenging. This presentation will review three of the available units and summarize validation efforts conducted with CSX, NS and BNSF. The current capabilities of the measuring systems are summarized, applications for the data discussed, and ideas for future study unveiled.