#10 Infrastructure Monitoring for Gradual Damage Detection Form an Inservice Light Rail Vehicle
- Principal Investigator
- Jacobo Bielak
- Status
- Completed
- Start Date
- Jan. 1, 2017
- End Date
- Aug. 31, 2018
- Project Type
- Research Applied
- Grant Program
- MAP-21 TSET National (2013 - 2018)
- Grant Cycle
- 2017 TSET UTC
- Visibility
- Public
Abstract
Globally, infrastructure is a vital asset for economic prosperity. However, condition assessments to ensure the continued safe operation of these assets tend to be subjective and infrequent. We are developing a low-cost, objective method to continuously monitor rail systems from the vibrations recorded in a passing train as a complement to traditional inspection techniques. With previous support from the University Transportation Center, we have established a long-term monitoring project with the Port Authority of Allegheny County. We have developed and deployed a robust automatic data acquisition and management system. Through this deployment we have been testing and refining our technique. We have instrumented two of Pittsburgh’s light rail vehicles and have been monitoring the rail system from the vibrations in the operational vehicle over the last three years. Our long-term objective is to provide accurate, rapid, nearly continuous assessments of the tracks, track structures and bridges along the line as cost-efficiently as possible. We already have obtained useful results, as we have been able to detect discrete changes in the recorded signals after construction activity on both the track and ballast. We have also developed a systematic method of data analysis to fuse data from multiple instrumented vehicles, and better detect changes in the condition of the rail/track system, and, thus, provide better insights for the Port Authority on high-priority maintenance issues. Our next immediate challenge is to develop suitable algorithms that will enable our monitoring system to detect small gradual continuous degradation in the rail/track system. This is a key step for making the monitoring system a practical damage detection tool. In addition, even though we have recorded vehicle motion as it moves along the entire track, until now, we have analyzed only data recorded on parts of the line that are supported on firm ground. During the course of the proposed project, we plan to begin analyzing also data from the vehicles as they traverse bridges within the line. Ultimately, our goal is to develop an infrastructure asset management technology that can serve not only the Port Authority of Allegheny County but also infrastructure owners for a variety of transportation modes. Through this improved maintenance technology, we will enable safer more efficient transportation.
Description
Timeline
Strategic Description / RD&T
Deployment Plan
Expected Outcomes/Impacts
Expected Outputs
TRID
Individuals Involved
| Name | Affiliation | Role | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| marioberges@cmu.edu | Berges, Mario | CEE | Co-PI | Faculty - Adjunct |
| jbielak@cmu.edu | Bielak, Jacobo | CEE | PI | Faculty - Tenured |
| noh@cmu.edu | Noh, Hae Young | CEE | Co-PI | Faculty - Adjunct |
Budget
Amount of UTC Funds Awarded
$127500.00Total Project Budget (from all funding sources)
$127500.00Documents
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Partners
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