Tram track maintenance-planning by gauge degradation modelling

Abstract

Tram track system management is a complex, costly and interdisciplinary process. It involves construction, monitoring and maintenance of track infrastructure and rolling stock, and public transport organization. Track management cost reduction requires development of a modern management system that is based on integration and mutual complementarity of engineering and maintenance activities. The first step of its establishment is increasing the proportion of planned predictive-preventive track maintenance at the expense of corrective maintenance. This requires creation of a maintenance-planning model. Its basic prerequisite is the development of a mathematical model of tram track degradation during exploitation. The research presented in this paper describes the creation of mechanistic-empirical models for tram tracks (narrow) gauge degradation by adopting the modelling methodology used on the classic railway constructions. Two types of tram tracks are observed: tracks with indirect elastic rail fastening system and stiffer direct elastic rail fastening system. These models represent the first step towards establishing a predictive maintenance system on Zagreb tram tracks.

Keywords:

• tram track
• predictive maintenance
• monitoring
• gauge degradation
• exploitation period
• mechanistic-em-pirical model
• rail fastening system