Damage Assessment of High-Speed EMU Train Axles Via SHM Technology Based on PZT Sensor Networks

Abstract

As key bearing components, high-speed EMU axles directly affect the operational safety of the vehicle. Timely and accurately detecting cracks, corrosion, deterioration of material properties and other damages that may occur in the axle is the key to ensuring the safe operation of high-speed EMU. Structural health monitoring technology is innovative for diagnosing structural integrity. It has been applied to carbody, bogie frame and other key bearing components of high-speed EMU, but there is no suitable monitoring technique for rotating parts such as axles. In this paper, an axle structural health monitoring technology based on the piezoelectric transducer sensor network was researched. Firstly, the law of transmission of stress wave at the axle surface was studied via a stress wave propagation experiment. Secondly, the structural health status of the axle was monitored in the eccentric loading test. Lastly, a customized sensor network and monitoring system were researched and designed based on the damage locations that may occur at the surface of the axle.