In-Motion Ultrasonic Testing of the Tread of High-Speed Railway Wheels using the Inspection System AUROPA III

摘要

The tread of railway wheels underlies high load and wear and its integrity is essential for the safety of the whole train. Visual inspections and optical gauging of the wheel profile are commonly applied for high-speed trains. AUROPA III is a rather new ultrasonic inspection system for the fast and early detection of crack-like defects in the tread of railway wheels. The system enables the inspection of the whole circumference of the tread during passing over stationary ultrasonic probes at speeds up to 15 km/h. EMAT probes are used which don't require liquid couplings. The ultrasonic wave propagates as a surface wave in the near surface zone of the tread; crack-like defects in this zone are detected by echoes and attenuation of the transmitted wave. This system can inspect all the wheels of a train in a few minutes and allows a fast screening of the condition of the tread. Chengdu Lead Science & Technology bought this inspection system with the latest state of technology in 2006, evaluated the technique and installed different systems in depots in China. The process of integrating the system into the field application is going on.