This study is aimed to develop a real-time safety monitoring of kilometer-long joint rails using a distributed fiber optic sensor. The sensor measures the distribution of Brillouin frequency shift along its length with pulse pre-pump Brillouin optical time domain analysis (PPP-BOTDA). The measurement distance and spatial resolution can be up to 25 km and 2 cm, respectively. The fiber optic sensor was first characterized and calibrated for distributed strain and temperature measurement, and then instrumented on a small-scale joint rail-like specimen in laboratory. The specimen was loaded at room temperature, and its strain distribution along the sensor was measured using a Neubrescope with high accuracy and spatial resolution. Given a gage length, the joint open change was determined and visibly identified from the measured strain distribution. Finally, an implementation plan of distributed sensors on a railway is introduced, including sensor deployment, sensor repair when broken, and cost analysis. The gage length at a crack is an important parameter in sensor deployment and investigated using finite element analysis. The results indicate that the distributed sensor can be used successfully to monitor the strain and temperature distributions in joint rails.
Skip Nav Destination
2015 Joint Rail Conference
March 23–26, 2015
San Jose, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Rail Transportation Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5645-1
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Kilometer-Long Optical Fiber Sensor for Real-Time Railroad Infrastructure Monitoring to Ensure Safe Train Operation Available to Purchase
Yi Bao,
Yi Bao
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Search for other works by this author on:
Genda Chen,
Genda Chen
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Search for other works by this author on:
Weina Meng,
Weina Meng
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Search for other works by this author on:
Fujian Tang,
Fujian Tang
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Search for other works by this author on:
Yizheng Chen
Yizheng Chen
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Search for other works by this author on:
Yi Bao
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Genda Chen
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Weina Meng
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Fujian Tang
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Yizheng Chen
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Paper No:
JRC2015-5653, V001T06A004; 8 pages
Published Online:
June 10, 2015
Citation
Bao, Y, Chen, G, Meng, W, Tang, F, & Chen, Y. "Kilometer-Long Optical Fiber Sensor for Real-Time Railroad Infrastructure Monitoring to Ensure Safe Train Operation." Proceedings of the 2015 Joint Rail Conference. 2015 Joint Rail Conference. San Jose, California, USA. March 23–26, 2015. V001T06A004. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/JRC2015-5653
Download citation file:
36
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Right On Track
Mechanical Engineering (June,2007)
Energy Savings Due to Wheel/Rail Lubrication—Seaboard System Test and Other Investigations
J. Eng. Ind (May,1985)
An Investigation of Factors Contributing to Wide Gage on Tangent Railroad Track
J. Eng. Ind (February,1977)
Related Chapters
Comparison of the Availability of Trip Systems for Reactors with Exothermal Reactions (PSAM-0361)
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM)
Insights and Results of the Shutdown PSA for a German SWR 69 Type Reactor (PSAM-0028)
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM)
Safety Monitoring System for Crane Structure Based on Optical Fiber Sensor
International Conference on Mechanical and Electrical Technology 2009 (ICMET 2009)