Application Cases

Experiment Title: Experimental Study on Guided Wave Propagation Characteristics in Switch Rails

Research Orientation:To verify the theoretical analysis results, an ultrasonic guided wave propagation characteristics test system was established. By designing a test plan, the propagation characteristics of guided waves in switch rails were tested, and the waveguide characteristics of switch rails were verified.

Testing Equipment:ATA-2022H high-voltage amplifier, signal generator, oscilloscope, piezoelectric sensor, computer, etc.

Experimental Process:

Figure 1: Guided Wave Test System for Switch Rails

Figure 2: Excitation and Acquisition of Pointed Rail Specimen

The experimental system shown in Figure 1 was set up, and then the test specimen was configured as shown in Figure 2. The experiment used a one-transmitter and one-receiver method to test the wave modes of the long and short rail bottoms, respectively. The excitation point was set at the end of the wide rail head, and the receiving point was set at a distance of 0.5 m from the end. The excitation signal was a 10-period sine wave signal with a central frequency of 30 kHz modulated by a Hanning window.

Experimental Results:

Figure 3: Acquired Signal from the Test

The test signal after 20 – 40 kHz band-pass filtering is shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3(a) and (b), the first wave packet at the long and short rail bottoms is the first arrival wave, the second wave packet is the reflection wave from the left end face, and the third wave packet is the reflection wave from the right end face. The group velocities of the long rail bottom mode 1 and the short rail bottom mode 2 were calculated to be 2988 m/s and 2768 m/s, respectively, based on the time difference of the main wave packets. The group velocities of mode 1 and mode 2 obtained by the calculation and analysis method were 2938 m/s and 2685 m/s, respectively, which are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Recommended High-Voltage Amplifier: ATA-2022B

Figure: ATA-2022B High-Voltage Amplifier Specifications

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