Development of advanced ultrasonic technology for automatic solid axle defect detection

摘要

Solid axles are critical elements in heavy haul railway needed to be checked regularly with high efficient tools. A rapid flaws detection method for on-line Chinese high-power locomotive solid axle by phased array ultrasonic (PAUT) technology is developed and described in this paper. Firstly, the methodology for solid axle defect is analysed in detail and some simulation results are discussed based on wave propagation and exacted geometry of axle, where it needs to overcome the shadowing affection from bolt hole. The multiple ultrasonic waves, which generated by PA probe, propagate from end side of axle and cover axle journal, wheel seat area, etc. And then one on-line solid axle inspection system is developed and introduced in detail, which includes phased array probe, automatic electromagnetic fixing and scanning mechanism, electronic control device and software. Finally, some detection examples from field are discussed and analysed for the detection ability.