Inspection of RCF rail defects-Review of NDT methods

Rail inspection research is a substantive topic for the railway industry. Management of rolling contact fatigue rail defects is crucial for transport safety worldwide because uncontrolled development of these defects could cause railway accidents, including derailments. This paper presents the review of non-destructive inspection methods for surface and subsurface rolling contact fatigue defects, with particular emphasis on squat and head checking rail defects. Main types of standard and novel non-destructive inspection methods are presented and described from the aspect of basic characteristics, advantages and disadvantages for its practical application for rails in the track, and possible improvements of equipment and software. The presented review is based on the relevant international researches and review papers. In addition, a combination of inspection methods are presented, which can improve the reliability of defect detection.

Automated summary

This paper reviews non-destructive inspection methods for rolling contact fatigue defects in railway tracks, with a focus on squat and head checking rail defects. It presents and describes various standard and novel non-destructive inspection methods, discussing their basic characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages, as well as potential improvements in equipment and software. The review is based on international research and literature, and proposes a combination of inspection methods to enhance defect detection reliability.