Possibility analysis of the LiDAR technique utilization to research the wear of rails and turnouts in tram tracks
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Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland
Submission date: 2023-09-25
Final revision date: 2024-03-12
Acceptance date: 2024-03-26
Publication date: 2025-03-20
Corresponding author
Jacek Makuch
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
Archives of Civil Engineering 2025;71(1):275-293
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ABSTRACT
The introduction of the article highlights the importance of measuring the wear of rails and railway turnouts. The evolution of methods and devices used to measure the profiles of these elements is briefly presented. The principle of conducting research using the LiDAR technique is explained. The problem of geometric and structural differences of tram tracks in relation to classic railways is pointed out, and the resulting concerns about the possibility of adapting typical railway methods of measuring rail profiles and turnouts to tram tracks. The rest of the article describes the construction, basic parameters and method of operation of a precise stationary laser scanner, dedicated to measuring rail profiles and railway turnouts. Graphical analysis of the results for measurements carried out with the mentioned device on tram tracks are presented - for rails in curves with small radii, turnouts (half-switches and frogs), corrugated wear, and broken welds. The summary presents conclusions from the research conducted.