Re: Nondestructive testing of railroad wheels at the German Bahn AG

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Re: Nondestructive testing of railroad wheels at the German Bahn AG
Posted by: Rolf Diederichs , E-mail: rd@ndt.net, on June 08, 1998 at 08:19:54:
In Reply to: Nondestructive testing of railroad wheels at the German Bahn AG posted by : Rolf Diederichs on June 06, 1998 at 20:46:23:
Update:
A previous press release from the Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) stated that UT was applied for in-service inspection of the wheel involved in the accident, as recently as one day the derailment occurred. However, June 6. evening the Deutsche Bahn retracted their report and said that Ultrasonic testing was NOT applied at all and is not part of this inspection stage.
Based on the information available to us, we know that in Hamburg and Munich UT systems have worked since 1992 (1994). [1]
Was testing discontinued completely because it is not 100% effective?
The method used is based on ultrasonic surface waves (Rayleigh waves) which could test the complete circumference of the wheel without the need of infrequently used UT scanning techniques. After a relatively short operation time the wheel material characteristics hardened
to the extent that sound was already absorbed and further evaluation was possible. Especially for older wheels, as hardening increased, this method failed. (40% of the wheels accordingly to Mr. Wuestenberg's message)
In our report [1] you can read the transcript of my questions and concerns which I presented to Mr. Hintze's after his speech in Aachen at the German French workshop. At that time concerns about the reliability of the method were already open discussed. We know that other people in Aachen had the same doubt.
In my opinion the DB was somewhat remiss all these years, in that they took no action toward the purchase of a better system, preferably one based on scanning testing methods such as the pulse echo technique in combination with TOFD (time of flight diffraction). Similar systems are working already in refurbishing shops at the DB in Darmstadt and Neumuenster. [2,3]
Should we travel on an ICE before such a system is installed?
Rolf Diederichs

1. http://www.ndt.net/article/report/df97/hintze/hintze_d.htm#6
2. http://www.irt.co.il/products/as220pr/as220pr.htm
3. http://www.krautkramer.com

Questions presented to Mr. Hintze

Follow Ups:

Re: Nondestructive testing of railroad wheels at the German Bahn AG viktor jemec 23:58:54 10/12/98 (0)

Re: Nondestructive testing of railroad wheels at the German Bahn AG Christian Grosse 11:06:46 6/08/98 (8)

Update Rolf Diederichs 12:44:31 6/08/98 (7)

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: Update: : A previous press release from the Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) stated that UT was applied for in-service inspection of the wheel involved in the accident, as recently as one day the derailment occurred. However, June 6. evening the Deutsche Bahn retracted their report and said that Ultrasonic testing was NOT applied at all and is not part of this inspection stage. : Based on the information available to us, we know that in Hamburg and Munich UT systems have worked since 1992 (1994). [1] : Was testing discontinued completely because it is not 100% effective? : The method used is based on ultrasonic surface waves (Rayleigh waves) which could test the complete circumference of the wheel without the need of infrequently used UT scanning techniques. After a relatively short operation time the wheel material characteristics hardened : to the extent that sound was already absorbed and further evaluation was possible. Especially for older wheels, as hardening increased, this method failed. (40% of the wheels accordingly to Mr. Wuestenberg's message) : In our report [1] you can read the transcript of my questions and concerns which I presented to Mr. Hintze's after his speech in Aachen at the German French workshop. At that time concerns about the reliability of the method were already open discussed. We know that other people in Aachen had the same doubt. : In my opinion the DB was somewhat remiss all these years, in that they took no action toward the purchase of a better system, preferably one based on scanning testing methods such as the pulse echo technique in combination with TOFD (time of flight diffraction). Similar systems are working already in refurbishing shops at the DB in Darmstadt and Neumuenster. [2,3] : Should we travel on an ICE before such a system is installed? : Rolf Diederichs : : 1. http://www.ndt.net/article/report/df97/hintze/hintze_d.htm#6 : 2. http://www.irt.co.il/products/as220pr/as220pr.htm : 3. http://www.krautkramer.com

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