Date of Award
12-1-2024
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Mathias, James
Abstract
Monitoring internal rail anomalies and defects regularly is vital for ensuring the safety of train operations. Although numerous nondestructive testing (NDT) methods exist for evaluating track infrastructure, there is still a high demand to effectively and efficiently inspect the rail base area. This study focuses on enhancing the understanding of infrared thermography (IRT), particularly line-scanning thermography (LST), as a non-contact inspection technique for identifying defects in the rail base. An inspection cart was developed to accommodate a thermal camera and line heaters, allowing for the examination of the effects of LST on carbon steel samples as well as actual rail base samples with various internal and external defects. The thermal contrasts in the captured infrared images were analyzed to identify the defects and differentiate them from areas without defects. Basic post-processing algorithms were integrated that enhanced the original infrared (IR) images and improved signal to noise ratio (SNR). The experiments demonstrated that operating the system at a speed of 1.34 m/s while applying 6000 W effectively detected bottom drilled holes (BDH) with an aspect ratio of diameter to the remaining thickness of two or higher. Likewise, the tests successfully identified surface-breaking defects, such as hairline cracks, even at 2.24 m/s. Consequently, the findings from this study serve as an essential reference for the future development of a commercial line-scanning thermography (LST) inspection system designed for in-service inspections, ultimately improving rail safety and maintenance procedures.
Access
This thesis is only available for download to the SIUC community. Current SIUC affiliates may also access this paper off campus by searching Dissertations & Theses @ Southern Illinois University Carbondale from ProQuest. Others should contact the interlibrary loan department of your local library or contact ProQuest's Dissertation Express service.