Verification of rail roughness growth model for rail corrugation due to periodic measurement

Abstract

A prediction of growth of rail surface roughness is important in realizing efficient maintenance activity for the rail corrugation. In this study, at first, we measured the rail surface roughness data due to the rail corrugation in the track. These data was measured for a long term. Next, we analyzed the tendency of these data by statistical method, and we developed a following prediction model that reproduces three stages of rail corrugation growth. At the early stage, the rail surface roughness grows up slowly. Afterwards, the rail surface roughness grows up rapidly, and the growth is gradual again at the middle stage. At the final stage, its growth almost saturated. Finally, we confirmed that tendency of the rail corrugation growth was able to be modeled by a growth curve by fitting the field data.