Pixel frequency based railroad surface flaw detection using active infrared thermography for Structural Health Monitoring

Case Studies in Thermal Engineering

Milena Martarelli¹  S.M. Ahmad²  Mohammad Yusuf³  Hafiz T. Ali⁴  Bilawal Ramzan⁵  Muhammad Sohail Malik⁵ 

[1] Corresponding author.;Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia;Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia;Department of Mechanical Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy;Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi, 23460, Pakistan;

关键词: Thermography;    Railroads;    Infrared radiation;    Surface flaws;    Non-destructive testing;    Structural health and monitoring;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

With rapid increase in operation and development of high-speed trains, inspection of railroad surface flaws has become an important aspect for safe and reliable operation of rail network. Non-destructive testing using active infrared thermography has been useful in determining the structural health of different structures with additional benefit of robustness in overall inspection system. This study is based on detection of artificial surface flaws on an in-service railroad. Transverse and longitudinal flaws of various dimensions were machined on rough and smooth rail surface. The railroad surface was thermally stimulated to a temperature equivalent to practical conditions. Emitted radiations from rail surface were captured by an infrared camera to detect cracks. Results show a comparison between the surface flaws on rough and smooth rail surface. Subsequently, raw infrared images were post-processed by statistical image improvement to quantitatively analyse the results. Significant change in the frequency distribution of pixel intensity is observed as the flaw size and depth changes giving a clear quantification of crack topology. A comprehensive and inexpensive solution for damage diagnosis will be offered to railway authorities for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and NDT by the proposed framework.

【 授权许可】

Unknown