TY - GEN
T1 - Locomotive wheel inspection with EMAT technology
AU - Tittmann, B. R.
AU - Jayaraman, S.
AU - Alers, R.
PY - 2003/12/1
Y1 - 2003/12/1
N2 - This paper reports on results starting with laboratory research, developing a prototype and transferring the capability to a railroad service center. Inspection of locomotive wheels is often done by magnetic particle/ dye penetrant technique, which requires careful cleaning of the surfaces and can be time consuming. Using a non-contact sensor such as the electromagnetic acoustic transducer EMAT, to scan the wheels in an automated manner offers greater inspection speed at lower manpower. This paper reviews the basic concept of EMATs, introduces a recently developed technique for simulating EMAT performance by Finite Element calculation and features bench top results of waveform acquisition and signal-to-noise ratio dependence on lift-off. Next presented are calibration results for spark-eroded flaws in wheel sections for a variety of locations and sizes. Finally data are on flaw detection in a railroad service facility on several locomotives with wheels spinning at speeds up to 40 meters/minute. Results for both artificial and actual flaws are shown. In conclusion, the EMAT non-contact sensor provides improved inspection for locomotive wheels without their removal.
AB - This paper reports on results starting with laboratory research, developing a prototype and transferring the capability to a railroad service center. Inspection of locomotive wheels is often done by magnetic particle/ dye penetrant technique, which requires careful cleaning of the surfaces and can be time consuming. Using a non-contact sensor such as the electromagnetic acoustic transducer EMAT, to scan the wheels in an automated manner offers greater inspection speed at lower manpower. This paper reviews the basic concept of EMATs, introduces a recently developed technique for simulating EMAT performance by Finite Element calculation and features bench top results of waveform acquisition and signal-to-noise ratio dependence on lift-off. Next presented are calibration results for spark-eroded flaws in wheel sections for a variety of locations and sizes. Finally data are on flaw detection in a railroad service facility on several locomotives with wheels spinning at speeds up to 40 meters/minute. Results for both artificial and actual flaws are shown. In conclusion, the EMAT non-contact sensor provides improved inspection for locomotive wheels without their removal.
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M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84857712357
SN - 9058096483
SN - 9789058096487
T3 - Structural Health Monitoring and Intelligent Infrastructure - Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring and Intelligent Infrastructure
SP - 683
EP - 686
BT - Structural Health Monitoring and Intelligent Infrastructure - Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring and Intelligent Infrastructure
T2 - 1st International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring and Intelligent Infrastructure, SHMII-1'2003
Y2 - 13 November 2003 through 15 November 2003
ER -