Condition Based Monitoring of Railway Tracks using Metal Magnetic Memory (MMM)

Abstract

This paper presents condition-based monitoring of railway tracks using Metal Magnetic Memory (MMM). Railway tracks face extreme conditions due to the effects of speed and high temperatures caused by train wheels. The focus was on inspecting the rail tracks to detect defects and wear. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques are needed for early detection of failures, especially in stress concentration zones, particularly to detect micro-cracks and fatigue damage. Conventional rail track inspection methods are visual, and there needs to be more automated equipment. Most NDT techniques struggle to maintain a constant distance between the sensor and the rail surface under real conditions. This study assesses the effectiveness of Metal Magnetic Memory (MMM) technology in determining locations with high magnetic stress, which would be prone to rail material deformation. MMM data was collected on new and used rail tracks to evaluate its capability to detect locations with higher magnetic stress. The comparative results demonstrated that MMM can effectively detect locations with high magnetic stress on used rail tracks.