[Zurück]

M. Ostermann, T. Maly, F. Michelberger:
"Approaches of a monitoring system to detect ice accumulations on trains";
Vortrag: Railways 2018 - The Fourth International Conference on Railway Technology, Barcelona, Sitges; 03.09.2018 - 07.09.2018; in: "Elsevier Conferences App", Elsevier, (2018), Paper-Nr. 197, 2 S.

Under certain conditions in winter snow or ice can adhere on the surface of vehicles. If ice chunks fall from the bottom side of a vehicle while the train is moving fast and if there is a ballasted track, the impact can be high enough to strike single stones out of their cohesion structure and the so-called ballast flying might occur. When disengaged stones gain enough height, collisions with the underside of the vehicle are possible. On the one hand, such stones may be significantly accelerated and are able to pull out further stones from the ballasted bed. On the other hand, the impact on the vehicle can lead to further detachments of snow or ice accumulations. Due to these mechanisms an avalanche effect can appear. Such events are able to cause heavy damage on the vehicle surface and on the infrastructure. Furthermore, people near of the track could also be endangered. So far, the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) count on visual inspections if the weather conditions encourage icing on the surface and if necessary on limitation of track speed, which causes a large impact on the timetable and delays. In order to prevent a general reduction of the track speed, a novel approach to detect conspicuous ice or snow accumulations was examined in a funded research project. The detection bases on measuring and evaluating three-dimensional surface profiles of the bottom sides of vehicles by the means of wayside distance measurements during regular operation. Such a monitoring approach would allow appropriate, train specific measures. This paper deals with the selection of appropriate measurement methods by their elementary properties. Building on this, several measurement approaches were developed and compared systematically. The study provides a substantial basis for further developments of ice detection monitoring systems. One of the key findings is that in principle the detection of dangerous ice accumulations with a wayside monitoring system seems to be possible. However, a development of a prototype and detailed field tests are necessary for a proof of concept.

ballast flying, track infrastructure, infrastructure application, monitoring system, operation safety

Projektleitung Norbert Ostermann:
EISMON