DISTRIBUTED FIBRE OPTIC SENSING FOR IN-TRAIN FORCES MONITORING

摘要

This application relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring data obtained as a train (202) travels on along a rail track (201) to detect the occurrence and/or severity of any significant in-train forces, such as may be caused by heavy braking or excessive acceleration. The method involves taking a first data set corresponding to measurement signals from a plurality of channels of at least one fibre optic distributed acoustic sensor (202) having a sensing fibre (101) deployed to monitor at least part of the rail track. The first data set corresponds to measurement signals acquired as the train passes along the rail track. The method involves analysing the measurement signals to detect a first characteristic signature (402) which consists of a sequence of acoustic transients that appear to propagate rearwards along the train.