Railway monitoring brochure - Strainstall UK

RailwaymonitoringMONITORING SOLUTIONS FOR THE RAIL INDUSTRYMONITORING SOLUTIONS FOR THE RAIL INDUSTRYStrainstall

Sensing and monitoring solutions for the rail industrywww.strainstall.comexpertiseMonitoring Services for the Rail IndustrySince the 1960's, Strainstall has been developing products, systems and services for the rail industry. Fromthe supply of a load pin for railway points monitoring to a complete assessment of stresses on railway track,Strainstall is focussed on providing realistic and reliable solutions for enhancing safety and performance.Working with Network Rail, LondonUnderground, consultants andcontractors, Strainstall provides acomprehensive and tailored serviceto the rail industry. Key to oursuccess in this sector is the abilityto carry out our installation workwithin the rail possession regimeand to use novel accessarrangements wheneverappropriate. Typical projectsinclude:Condition Monitoring SystemsStatic & Dynamic Live Load TestingWheel Impact Load Detection(WILD)Vertical and Lateral Wheel ImpactMonitoringPoints Operating Force MonitoringBrake Force TestingResidual Stress MeasurementStrain Gauge Installation ServicesSleeper DisplacementCrack MonitoringBridge Condition MonitoringRailway bridge condition monitoringis an asset management tool thatreduces the need for costly (andpotentially hazardous) inspectionregimes and verifies theperformanceof the bridge. Measurements areobtained remotely from varioussensors to provide information thatenables the most suitablemanagement of any maintenanceoperations, and can also be usedas evidence when life extensionschemes are being considered.Data is accessible via the internetand real-time alarms generated ifpre-set limits are exceeded.Railway Points Force MonitoringStrainstall holds the patent for thewidely used points pin, whichreplaces a component withinrailway points to monitor the forcerequired for operation. The pointsare generally monitored using twokey parameters to detect aprobable failure - an increase in thetiming of operation and the actualforce needed to switch the rails.The load pin provides an electricaloutput proportional to the forceexerted to the drive rods.Evaluation in a researchprogramme at Sheffield Universityconcluded that, of the availableparameters, only the directoperating force measured by theload pin gave sufficient variationbetween faults.This data can be used bymaintenance staff to targetresources effectively and avoidmajor and costly breakdowns.Bridge Strike MonitoringMany bridge strikes go unreportedwith potentially seriousconsequences. Conversely, manyreported bridge strikes are sominor that line closure and thesubsequent train delays areunnecessary. Strainstall’s BridgeStrikeAlert system provides thebridge owner with immediatelyaccessible information on theseverity of a bridge strike via asignal box display to the localsignaller and infrastructuremaintainers. The informationprovided by the system can beused in the decision makingprocess to decide whether thebridge needs to be closed, trainscautioned or if some lines canremain open to traffic.

Sensing and monitoring solutions for the rail industrywww.strainstall.cominnovationAsset Protection and Safety Management SystemsStrainstall design, install and maintain standard and bespoke monitoring systems that both protect and ensurethe safe operation of the rail network. Many systems are installed in remote locations, so have been designedto operate unattended for many months, while ensuring that any significant changes are logged and reported.Flood MonitoringStrainstall’s flood monitoringsystem has been designed for railbridges that frequently experienceflash flooding. At these bridges,once the water level has risen to acertain limit, they have to beclosed to traffic for bothoperational and safety reasons.By monitoring water levels andpredicting when the bridge closurelevels will be reached, the trainmovements can be managed moreeffectively. Not only can bridges beclosed and reopened in a timelymanner, but decisions can bemade about whether to allow trainsto pass sites where the water levelis rising, so as to avoid thembecoming stranded on the wrongside of a closed bridge.Bridge Scour MonitoringBridge scour has been identified asone of the three main causes ofbridge failure, accounting foraround 60% of all bridge failures.Strainstall have designed a bridgescour monitoring systemspecifically to warn bridgeoperators when scouring hasoccurred. Whenever erosion to theriver bed takes place a warningmessage is sent by SMS, allowinginspectors to take appropriateaction, such as closing the bridge,until it can be physically examined.Embankment/Landslip MonitoringRailway embankments and slopeswhich are prone to landslips areoften subject to temporary speedrestrictions, causing delays.Strainstall has designed andinstalled embankment/landslipmonitoring systems that providewarnings in the event that theground moves or conditions cab changesuch that movement could happen.The key sensors are in-placeinclinometers and ground waterlevel piezometers that are fitted inthe location of potential slip circlesto detect creep movements,ground movement and groundwater levels. A display PC providesa simple user interface which isupdated frequently to indicate ifground conditions present a risk oflandslip, or if movement hasactually been detected. Thisenables signallers to stop andcaution trains only in the event of asuspected landslide.Rockfall MonitoringTrains running on lines that passbelow a rock slope or cliff face canbe at risk from falling rocks, withspeed restrictions imposed as aresult. Strainstall install rockfallmonitoring systems linked to thesignalling centre that alertsignallers that a rockfall hasoccurred and its magnitude,allowing them to take theappropriate actions. This meansthat temporary speed restrictionsor line closures are solely imposedwhen there is a measurable risk totrains, as opposed to blanketrestrictions.

Strainstall has over 40 years ofexperience in the monitoring and testingof rail infrastructure and components. Ourteam of qualified mechanical, electronic,civil and structural engineers are wellequipped to develop solutions to mostinstrumentation and monitoringrequirements within the rail industry.We undertake installation and testingwork at site and the health and safety ofour staff is of paramount importance.Each member of staff has CSCS andCCNSG Safety Passport qualifications,plus specific training for the environmentor access method needed for a particularproject.Strainstall UK LtdUnit 1, Charlton Lane, Westfield Industrial EstateMidsomer Norton, Radstock BA3 4BE, UKtel: +44 (0)1761 414939fax: +44 (0)1761 416655email: info@strainstallmonitoring.comwebsite: www.strainstallmonitoring.com9-10 Mariners Way, CowesIsle of Wight PO31 8PD, UKtel: +44 (0)1983 203600fax: +44 (0)1983 291335email: info@strainstall.comwebsite: www.strainstall.comStrainstall Middle East LLCPO Box 111007, Jebel Ali Industrial Area #1Dubai, United Arab Emiratestel: +971 4880 4380fax: +971 4880 4381email: info@strainstall.aewebsite: www.strainstall.aeStrainstall Singapore Pty Ltd21 Bukit Batok Crescent, WCEGA Tower#11-75, Singapore 658065tel: +65 6561 4628fax: +65 6561 7928email: strainstall@singnet.com.sgwebsite: www.strainstall.comStrainstall