Abstract

Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) cracks are one of the typical surface-breaking defects that impairs the rail service life. RCF cracks propagation can deviate from regular semi-ellipse shapes, turning into asymmetrical profiles. RCF crack measurements using the alternating current field measurement (ACFM) method are unable to accurately characterise asymmetrical cracks, as the sizing algorithm is developed based on regular crack shapes. In this paper, the development of modelling capability to consider asymmetrical RCF cracks and the influence of asymmetrical shapes on ACFM signals are presented. A novel grid scan method using ACFM probe sensor for characterizing asymmetrical crack shapes is proposed. The influences of rail head profile on crack sizing are studied and result shows that it gives maximum 2 mm underestimation in crack depth if the worn rail head profile is not considered in ACFM sizing algorithm.

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