Development of a methodology for the detection of vertical split head defects in the rail

Train accidents, aging rail infrastructure and higher train speed require better performance, efficiency and reliability of currently-used nondestructive testing (NDT) methods for revenue service rail inspections and, at the same time, new non-contact NDT technologies. The non-contact approach presented in this paper provides improved inspection efficiency by enabling transmission and detection of ultrasonic waves to target specific defects in the head, web and base of the rail. Some of the activities performed during the cooperation with Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) and the results for the development of a specific methodology for the detection of vertical defects in the railhead are presented. Vertical split head detection, based on the combined analysis of transmitted, reflected and converted ultrasonic waves, was evaluated performing on-track tests at the Rail Defect Test Facility (RDTF) which contains flawed rail sections with various types of internal and surface anomalies