Railway Track Diagnostics by Combined Kinematic and Vibroacoustic Analysis

The paper analyzes the use of small-sized inertial measuring systems, the sensors of which are installed in the immediate vicinity of the wheel/rail contact zone. This allows to combine the means of controlling oscillatory (mechanical) and vibrational (acoustic) effects caused by the passage of defective track elements into one device. The mechanical and acoustic properties of the car/rail track system are analyzed. The methods of kinematic analysis and vibroacoustics, which are applicable for monitoring the state of structural elements of the car and rail track, are considered.