The condition assessment of insulated rail joints with help of an already existing measuring system

In this paper, the potential of an already existing measurement system for the condition assessment of insulated rail joints is shown. The system properties of the so-called rail surface measurement system are described and the potential of systematic data analysis is addressed. The measured short-wave range and the high sampling rate offer the possibility of adding further facets to the existing track condition assessment. The data source is particularly suitable for evaluating short-wave effects, which were previously difficult to describe. With the help of a positioning algorithm it becomes possible to evaluate isolated rail joints regarding their quality development over time. It can be shown that insulated rail joints deteriorate in a super linear manner. In order to reduce the negative influence on the quality behaviour of the entire track, intervention thresholds for a preventive maintenance regime have to be defined. Using technical-economic assessments, these intervention thresholds can be defined in a way to ensure undisturbed railway operation with the lowest possible life cycle costs.