Experimental validation of a vertical wheel load measurement system

A new on-track measuring method for vertical wheel/rail contact force based on PVDF strain sensors is developed, which overcomes the difficulties found in other conventional methods by resistance strain gauges. A rail model for the measurement was made and a laboratory load test using this method was performed to verify the proposed technique. Firstly, the test was performed under the condition that vertical load acts on various points along the rail direction. Secondly, the interference of bending by lateral force on rail surface strain caused by vertical force was investigated. Finally, the expected correlation between vertical wheel/rail contact force and strain responses measured by PVDF sensors was confirmed. The experimental results are perfectly compliant with the theoretical analysis and simulation calculations, which verify that the proposed method has sufficient practicability of monitoring vertical wheel load on commercial lines. © 2016, UK Simulation Society. All rights reserved.