Monitoring of railway vehicles and infrastructure by portable dynamic scale

Tematem artykułu są wyniki badań i opis urządzeń, opracowanych i wykonanych w firmie Adaptronica, monitorujących obciążenia w transporcie kolejowym. Wagi dynamiczne zbudowane są na bazie przetworników mocowanych w sposób nieinwazyjny do stopki szyny, a identyfikacja obciążeń opiera się na pomiarze odkształceń szyny kolejowej wywołanych przejazdem pociągu. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań uzyskanych podczas monitorowania odcinków linii kolejowych, charakteryzujących się znaczną intensywnością ruchu pociągów. Określono histogramy wartości obciążeń osiowych badanych pojazdów. Rezultaty zweryfikowano w oparciu o wyniki pomiarów referencyjną wagą statyczną lub o pomiary przejazdów lokomotyw o znanej masie.The article presents the devices for monitoring loads in railway transport, developed and manufactured by the Adaptronica company. Dynamic scales utilize portable transducers fixed in a noninvasive way to the rail foot. Load identification is based on the measurements of rail deformations caused by a passing train. The article presents the results obtained during the monitoring of railway lines, characterized by significant intensity of train traffic. Histograms of axial load values of the tested vehicles were determined. The measurements’ results were verified with the results obtained with a reference static scale or with the results obtained during passage of locomotives with a given mass

IN-MOTION RAIL SCALES AS A COMPONENT OF THE RAILWAY BRIDGE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM

The paper presents the Adaptronica company experience in the field of the design, execution and testing of in-motion rail scales. The method of identification of loads applied in these scales is based on the measurement of rail deformations caused by passing trains. The results from experimental and simulation research on computerized railway scales are presented. The load identification algorithm and its practical implementation are shown. The implementation of the system, made on the basis of the device, is described

VIBROACOUSTIC SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT OF THE TOUCHDOWN OF A LIGHT AIRCRAFT

Aircraft touchdown is one of the most difficult and dangerous phases of a flight. The paper presents an aerial light aircraft, prepared and produced by vibroacoustic tests, using an aircraft landing and landing monitoring system (AVI). The concept is based on the use of an ultrasonic transceiver head and vibration transducer, together with an appropriate signal processing and analysis system. The system measures the touchdown speed and altitude of the aircraft in the final phase of the flight and determines the level of load transmitted to the aircraft during the landing. Thanks to data archiving, it allows for better estimation of the wear rate of the structure, which is important in determining the causes of possible malfunction. It can be used with light and ultralight aircraft and, after adaptation, in unmanned aircraft. It can also be used to evaluate the art of piloting during landing

O ruído e o aparelho respiratório

RESUMO: Apesar do importante acervo de evidência científica já existente, a patologia respiratória provocada pela exposição crónica a ruído de baixa frequência (RBF) continua por reconhecer. O objectivo deste trabalho de revisão consiste em: a) descrever o fenómeno acústico como agente de doença, demonstrando a inépcia da legislação no que diz respeito à patologia extra-auditiva; b) esclarecer os motivos que conduziram ao interesse na patologia respiratória nos indivíduos expostos a RBF; e c) enaltecer outros estudos que denunciam o efeito deletério do ruído sobre o aparelho respiratório. Por último, apresentar e discutir as perspectivas futuras sobre os estudos dirigidos à caracterização dos efeitos do RBF e da necessidade de reproduzir estes efeitos em modelos animais.REV PORT PNEUMOL 2003; IX (5): 367-379 ABSTRACT: Noise-induced pulmonary pathology is still an issue that is regarded with much suspicion despite the significant body of evidence demonstrating that acoustic phenomena target the respiratory tract. The goal of this review paper is threefold: a) to describe acoustic phenomena as an agent of disease, and the inadequacies of current legislation regarding noise-induced, non-auditory pathology; b) to trace how the interest in noise-induced pulmonary pathology emerged within the scope of studies on vibroacoustic disease; and c) to bring to light other studies denouncing noise as an agent of disease that impinges on the respiratory tract. As concluding remarks, future perspectives in LFN-related research will be discussed. The need for animal models will be emphasized.REV PORT PNEUMOL 2003; IX (5): 367-379 Palavras-chave: ruído de baixa frequência, derrame pleural, bronquite, fibrose pulmonar, audição, decibel, ocupacional, ambiental, Key-words: low frequency noise, pleural effusion, bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, hearing, decibel, occupational, environmenta