Full-Scale Field Evaluation of Microelectromechanical System-Based Biaxial Strain Transducer and Its Application in Fatigue Analysis
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 16, Issue 3
Abstract
The objective of this research is to develop a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based intelligent hybrid Biaxial Strain Transducer (BiAST) sensor for predicting railroad fatigue life based on strain history. The developed BiAST prototype was deployed to collect real-time strain data from the full-scale test track at the Transportation Technology Center (TTCI), near Pueblo, Colorado. The collected strain data were analyzed using the “Binner” fatigue analysis program for counting the load cycles and estimating the fatigue life of a rail structure. Field-testing results of the BiAST were used to evaluate the BiAST prototype with respect to its repeatability, accuracy, and hybridization. BiAST was effective in detecting the dynamic response of a particular wheel and spurious overload events. BiAST can be used to detect passing wheels, train speed, and track condition.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Cannon, D. F., and Pradier, H.(1996). “Rail rolling contact fatigue.” Wear, 191, 1–13.
Cao, L., Kim, T. S., Mantell, S. C., and Polla, D. L.(2000). “Simulation and fabrication of piezoresistive membrane type MEMS strain sensors.” Sens. Actuators, (80), 273–279.
Chen, X., Lee, H., and Bhatti, M. (2003). “A prototype of Web GIS forUAST-based railroad fatigue management.” TRB Annual Meeting (CD-Rom).
Dabell, B. J., Hill, S. J., and Watson, P. (1987). “An evaluation of the fatigue performance of conventional British rail steels.” Rail steels—developments, processing, and use, ASTM STP 644, D. H. Stone and G. G. Knupp, eds., ASTM, West Conshohocken, Pa., 430–488.
Garcia, G. A., and Reiff, R. P. (1999). “Test and evaluation of rail flaw detection technologies.” Rep. No. R-934, Transportation Technology Center, Pueblo, Colo.
Graham, J. A. (1968). Fatigue design handbook, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa.
Lee, H., Yun, H., and Maclean, B.(2002). “Development and field testing of a prototype hybrid uniaxial strain transducer.” NDT & E Int., (35), 125–134.
Maclean, B. J., Miladejovsky, M. G., Whitaker, M. R., and Oliver, M. O. (1997). “A digital MEMS-based strain gage for structural health monitoring.” Proc., MRS Conf., Boston.
Manson, S. S., and Halford, G. R.(1981). “Practical implementation of the double linear damage rule and damage curve approach for treating cumulative fatigue damage.” Int. J. Fract., 17(2), 169–192.
Miner, M. A. (1945). “Cumulative damage in fatigue.” J. Appl. Mech., September, A-159–164.
Neubert, H. K. P. (1975). Instrument transducers—an introduction to their performance and design, 2nd Ed., Oxford Univ. Press, London.
Ringsberg, J. W.(2001). “Life prediction of rolling contact fatigue crack initiation.” Int. J. Fatigue, 23, 575–586.
Smith, K. N., Watson, P., and Topper, T. H.(1970). “A stress-strain function for the fatigue of metals.” J. Mater., 5(4), 767–778.
Stephens, R. I., Fatemi, A., Stephens, R. R., and Fuches, H. O. (2000). Metal fatigue in engineering, 2nd Ed., Wiley-Interscience, New York.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 16 • Issue 3 • July 2003
Pages: 100 - 107
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 27, 2002
Accepted: Nov 27, 2002
Published online: Jun 13, 2003
Published in print: Jul 2003
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.