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Fatigue in railway infrastructure

Edited by A M Robinson, Newcastle University, UK and A Kapoor, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

The book almost exclusively tackles the subject of failures in railway infrastructure.
Materials World

The book has plenty of detail about embankments, cuttings and bridges.
Materials World

The text is particularly useful to up-and-coming railway civil engineers and designers aware of failure modes that are not taught in many university courses.
Materials World

 - provides a concise review of fatigue in the railway infrastructure
 - examines the causes of potential failure in rails, fixings and sleepers
 - analyses fatigue in railway bridges including masonry arch, metal and concrete structures
 - includes an assessment of safety and reliability issues affecting escalators, lifts and moving walks

Fatigue is a major issue affecting safety and quality of service in the railway industry. This book reviews key aspects of this important subject. It begins by providing an overview of the subject, discussing fatigue at the wheel-rail interface and in other aspects of infrastructure. It then considers fatigue in railway and tramway track, looking at causes of potential failure in such areas as rails and fixings as well as sleepers. It also reviews failure points in structures such as embankments and cuttings. The book analyses fatigue in railway bridges, looking in particular at masonry arch bridges as well as metal and concrete bridges. Two final chapters review safety and reliability issues affecting escalators and lifts.

Fatigue in railway infrastructure is a helpful reference for those in the railway industry responsible for infrastructure maintenance as well as those researching this important subject.

ISBN 1 85573 740 X
ISBN-13: 978 1 85573 740 2
August 2009
128 pages  234 x 156mm  hardback  
£120.00 / US$205.00 / €145.00

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An e-book version of this title is available to purchase as part of a Collection or Pick n Mix or by Chapter. Visit Woodhead Publishing Online

About the editors

Dr Mark Robinson is Professor of Rail Systems Engineering in the School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering at Newcastle University, UK. Professor Robinson is also Director of NewRail, the University’s centre of railway and transport research.

Dr Ajay Kapoor is Professor of Engineering Design in the Faculty of Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.

Titles which may also be of interest:
Wheel-rail interface handbook
Tribology and dynamics of engine and powertrain
Condition assessment of aged structures
Surface coatings for protection against wear

Contents

Fatigue in railways: an overview
R A Smith, Imperial College London, UK
 - Introduction
 - Fatigue and railways
 - Fatigue at the wheel-rail interface
 - Fatigue affected by forces generated at the wheel-rail interface: the importance of dynamic loads
 - Fatigue and vehicles
 - Fatigue in the infrastructure
 - Concluding remarks: the future
 - References

Fatigue in railway and tramway track
L Lesley, formerly Liverpool John Moores University, UK
 - Introduction
 - Development of railway infrastructure
 - The excitation mechanism
 - Railway and tramway tracks and structures
 - Rail head failures
 - Rail failures
 - Rail fixing failures
 - Sleeper and ballast failures
 - Earth structures
 - Built structures
 - Tramways and Light Rail
 - Conclusions
 - References

Fatigue in railway bridges
M Gilbert, University of Sheffield, UK
 - Introduction
 - Historical context
 - Railway bridge requirements
 - Masonry arch bridges
 - Metal and concrete bridges
 - Parapets
 - Future trends
 - Sources of further information
 - Conclusions
 - References

Safety and reliability issues affecting escalators and moving walks in railway stations
K Behrens, formerly ThyssenKrupp, Germany
 - Introduction
 - Safety issues affecting escalators and moving walks
 - Reliability and service life issues affecting escalators and moving walks
 - References

Design, safety and reliability of lifts in railway stations
H-P Kohlbecker, Deutsche Bahn Station and Service AG, Germany
 - Introduction
 - Lift design, size and design specifications
 - Vandalism resistance requirements for railway station lifts
 - Technical equipment and safety of lift systems
 - Lift control systems