Robustness of railway rolling stock speed calculation using ground vibration measurements

Georges Kouroussis,Mike C Forde,Omar Laghrouche,David P Connolly,Olivier Verlinden,Peter Woodward,R Serra

doi:10.1051/matecconf/20152007002

Georges Kouroussis, Mike C Forde + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/20152007002

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Abstract

Evaluating railway vehicle speed is an important task for both railway operators and researchers working in the area of vehicle/track dynamics, noise and vibration assessment. The objective of this paper is to present a new technique capable of automatically calculating train speed from vibration sensors placed at short or long distances from the track structure. The procedure combines three separate signal processing techniques to provide high precision speed estimates. In order to present a complete validation, the robustness of the proposed method is evaluate using synthetic railway vibration time histories generated using a previously validated vibration numerical model. A series of simulations are performed, analysing the effect of vehicle speed, singular wheel and rail surface defects, and soil configuration. Virtual conditions of measurement are also examined, taking into account external sources other than trains, and sensor response. It is concluded that the proposed method offers high performance for several train/track/soil arrangements. It is also used to predict train speeds during field trials performed on operational railway lines in Belgium and in UK.

Highlights

Vehicle speed estimation is of growing interest in various railway applications
Many noise and vibrations phenomenons are associated to high-speed trains (HSTs)
The constraint on the peak velocity of high-speed trains concerns the technical and safety limit imposed by the vehicle, as well as the track structure

Summary

Introduction

Vehicle speed estimation is of growing interest in various railway applications. For example, many noise and vibrations phenomenons are associated to high-speed trains (HSTs). Theoretical and experimental studies of railway-induced, ground-borne vibrations have multiplied in the last twenty years This has become evident because of the rapid development of these networks, in Europe (Fig. 1). The constraint on the peak velocity of high-speed trains concerns the technical and safety limit imposed by the vehicle, as well as the track structure. For these reasons, it is important to mention the works of Degrande and Schillemans [4], Galvın and Domınguez [5], or Auersch [6].

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