Maintenance Optimisation in Rail Infrastructure Systems for Coal and
Iron Ore Exports. Coal and iron ore exports, worth around 55 per cent of Australia's export earnings, critically depend on the transport capacity provided by Australia's rail infrastructure. Maintenance plays a crucial role in ensuring that infrastructure components are in a condition to provide safe, reliable, and efficient transport. However maintenance activities also reduce the system capacity, and are costly. It is thus c ....Maintenance Optimisation in Rail Infrastructure Systems for Coal and
Iron Ore Exports. Coal and iron ore exports, worth around 55 per cent of Australia's export earnings, critically depend on the transport capacity provided by Australia's rail infrastructure. Maintenance plays a crucial role in ensuring that infrastructure components are in a condition to provide safe, reliable, and efficient transport. However maintenance activities also reduce the system capacity, and are costly. It is thus critical to sustaining the growth and competitiveness of Australia's coal and iron ore exports that maintenance is optimised so as to maximise system efficiency and delivered capacity. The project aims to achieve this by the development of new decision support technologies embedding innovative decision-making models and algorithms.Read moreRead less
Response of Vertical Drains in Soft Subgrade under Cyclic Rail Loading. Soft formations (subgrade) can become unstable when subjected to heavy and repeated (cyclic) train loading. This project aims to investigate the cause and mechanisms of undrained instability of soft subgrade soil beneath rail embankments, and to assess the effectiveness of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) in stabilising such soils. The role of PVDs to enhance track performance will be quantified via rigorous mathematical ....Response of Vertical Drains in Soft Subgrade under Cyclic Rail Loading. Soft formations (subgrade) can become unstable when subjected to heavy and repeated (cyclic) train loading. This project aims to investigate the cause and mechanisms of undrained instability of soft subgrade soil beneath rail embankments, and to assess the effectiveness of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) in stabilising such soils. The role of PVDs to enhance track performance will be quantified via rigorous mathematical techniques complementing a computer-based numerical model, which can be validated by laboratory and field data. It will deliver tangible outcomes for accurately predicting the long-term settlements in soft foundations over prolonged train loading while extending the life span of modern railroad infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Hybrid Pile-Drain System to Stabilise Railways Built on Soft Soils. Australian coastal soils often pose significant challenges in the design and construction of railways. The project aims to develop a novel hybrid system of pipe piles & prefabricated vertical drains installed to prevent soft foundation soil (subgrade) from excessive yielding under prolonged cyclic loading by heavy-haul trains. Using large-scale physical model simulations and field trials supported by numerical analysis of soil-p ....Hybrid Pile-Drain System to Stabilise Railways Built on Soft Soils. Australian coastal soils often pose significant challenges in the design and construction of railways. The project aims to develop a novel hybrid system of pipe piles & prefabricated vertical drains installed to prevent soft foundation soil (subgrade) from excessive yielding under prolonged cyclic loading by heavy-haul trains. Using large-scale physical model simulations and field trials supported by numerical analysis of soil-pile-drain interaction mechanisms, this innovative concept will be examined to establish a user-friendly design methodology. For rail operators, the outcomes will generate substantially reduced maintenance costs, while extending the longevity of track infrastructure to ensure faster and heavier trains of the future. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100273
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,679.00
Summary
Supercomputing to understand track buckling and related train derailments. This project aims to understand the contributions of railway train forces to a dangerous and high-cost track dynamic behaviour called buckling; by developing a supercomputing method that unlocks the capability for large-scale 3D train-track interaction research for railway trains of up to 250 vehicles. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding track buckling, train derailments and train-track dynamics. Expe ....Supercomputing to understand track buckling and related train derailments. This project aims to understand the contributions of railway train forces to a dangerous and high-cost track dynamic behaviour called buckling; by developing a supercomputing method that unlocks the capability for large-scale 3D train-track interaction research for railway trains of up to 250 vehicles. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding track buckling, train derailments and train-track dynamics. Expected outcomes include a new supercomputing method for train-track dynamics and derailment research and a science-based technique to assess track buckling safety. This project should provide significant benefits to the rail industry including enhanced rail safety, lower maintenance costs and improved transport efficiency.Read moreRead less
Reduced fuel consumption through aerodynamic optimisation and the development of a new fuel consumption model for inter-modal trains in Australia. This project aims to improve intermodal freight train efficiency by developing new experimental and computational analytical techniques leading to aerodynamic optimisation and improved fuel consumption models. The aerodynamics solutions will be widely applicable to other rail and ground transportation modes.
Novel vibro-acoustic technologies for detecting bearing and wheel defects in rail vehicles. Research will be conducted to provide the basis for the development of a novel automatic system that detects bearing and wheel defects in under-way railway wagons, thus helping to prevent catastrophic derailments and minimise fuel consumption. It will also maintain Australian industry at the forefront of the global track-side monitoring industry.
Faster, cheaper, safer: how to accelerate rail driver training and avert the looming skills shortage. The Australian rail industry is growing rapidly and needs to double the number of drivers trained in order to meet demand. This project will bring together Australia's leading hi-tech simulator company and Australia's leading rail human factors research team to 'reinvent' driver training technologies and techniques for the 21st century.