There is a need to analyze locomotive wheels for flank cracks in a non-destructive manner in order to prevent catastrophic failures. Flaw, shape, and size are desired parameters in establishing the quality of commercial tires. A variety of defects such as voids, inclusions, surface and internal cracks, or the like, must be discerned in order to prevent failure. This paper exhibits and compares the benefits of a number of different techniques used for flaw detection. Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques used are magnetic particle inspection, dye penetrant, eddy current, electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). The techniques vary in their ability to ascertain the flaw characteristics. Using a non-contact sensor such as the EMAT, to scan the wheels in an automated manner offers greater inspection speed at lower manpower. This paper reviews the basic concept of EMATs, introduces a recently developed technique for simulating EMAT performance by Finite Element calculation and features bench top results of waveform acquisition and signal-to-noise ratio dependence on lift-off. Next presented are calibration results for spark-eroded flaws in wheel sections for a variety of locations and sizes. Finally data are on flaw detection in a railroad service facility on several locomotives with wheels spinning at speeds up to 40 meters/minute. Results for both artificial and actual flaws are shown.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME/JSME 2004 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference
July 25–29, 2004
San Diego, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Pressure Vessels and Piping Division
ISBN:
0-7918-4679-2
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Locomotive Wheel Inspection With EMAT Technology
B. R. Tittmann,
B. R. Tittmann
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Search for other works by this author on:
S. Jayaraman
S. Jayaraman
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Search for other works by this author on:
B. R. Tittmann
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
S. Jayaraman
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Paper No:
PVP2004-2833, pp. 171-176; 6 pages
Published Online:
August 12, 2008
Citation
Tittmann, BR, & Jayaraman, S. "Locomotive Wheel Inspection With EMAT Technology." Proceedings of the ASME/JSME 2004 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference. Recent Advances in Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques for Material Science and Industries. San Diego, California, USA. July 25–29, 2004. pp. 171-176. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/PVP2004-2833
Download citation file:
9
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Turbine Steam Chest Life Assessment
POWER2010
Related Articles
Novel Eddy Current Array Sensor Delivery Tool for Automated Nondestructive Examination of Spent Fuel Pool Liner
ASME J of Nuclear Rad Sci (April,2023)
Detection and Sizing of Defects in Control Rod Drive Mechanism Penetrations Using Eddy Current and Ultrasonics
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (August,1996)
Finite Element Modeling of Remote-Field Eddy Current Problems for the
Nondestructive Testing of Metal Tube
J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng (May,1989)
Related Chapters
Examination
Power Piping
Examination
Process Piping: The Complete Guide to ASME B31.3, Third Edition
Effect of Copper Foil Thickness on an Eddy Current Sensor Array's Output Characteristics
International Conference on Electronics, Information and Communication Engineering (EICE 2012)