Railway track component condition monitoring using optical fibre Bragg grating sensors
Measurement Science and Technology, 2016•iopscience.iop.org
The use of optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors to monitor the condition of safety
critical rail components is investigated. Fishplates, switchblades and stretcher bars on the
Stagecoach Supertram tramway in Sheffield in the UK have been instrumented with arrays
of FBG sensors. The dynamic strain signatures induced by the passage of a tram over the
instrumented components have been analysed to identify features indicative of changes in
the condition of the components.
critical rail components is investigated. Fishplates, switchblades and stretcher bars on the
Stagecoach Supertram tramway in Sheffield in the UK have been instrumented with arrays
of FBG sensors. The dynamic strain signatures induced by the passage of a tram over the
instrumented components have been analysed to identify features indicative of changes in
the condition of the components.
Abstract
The use of optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors to monitor the condition of safety critical rail components is investigated. Fishplates, switchblades and stretcher bars on the Stagecoach Supertram tramway in Sheffield in the UK have been instrumented with arrays of FBG sensors. The dynamic strain signatures induced by the passage of a tram over the instrumented components have been analysed to identify features indicative of changes in the condition of the components.
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