Infoscience

Conference paper

Modeling degradation processes of switches and crossings for maintenance and renewal planning on the Swiss railway network

ZWANENBURG, Willem-Jan
  • Presented at: 6th Swiss Transport Research Conference - STRC 06, Monte Verità / Ascona, mars 2006

Switches and crossings (S&C;) form an important asset of modern day railways. Current Decision Support Systems for track maintenance and renewal however do not provide help on maintenance and renewal management of S&C;, due to the lack of understanding of the degradation and deterioration processes of S&C; often combined with an unsuitable way of data collection. This project will focus on understanding and modelling the degradation and deterioration processes of complete S&C; and its components (ballast, sleepers, rail, frogs/crossings, sliding chairs, half set of switches etc) on geometrical scale and with regard to material deterioration. In close cooperation with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and – if possible – other networks through the International Union of Railways (UIC), information will be gathered on S&C; deterioration in combination with information on the trains which run over the S&C;, the number of settings, axle loads, speeds, quality of the subsoil etc. The end product will consist of models and a computer tool which allow future prediction of maintenance and renewal needs of S&C; on network, regional and local scale.

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