Ultra Miniature Data Loggers for Testing and In-Service Monitoring of Railway Axles and Other Rail Vehicle Components

Transmission Dynamics of Northern Power Transmission Research Laboratories jointly with Bombardier Transportation have developed a practical and robust method of in-service measurement of railway axle stresses. The ultra miniature data logging system was specified and installed on a routine service train and was in continuous operation on a wheelset for more than one year. The acquired data provided statistically significant information regarding the loading patterns affected by a combination of, service load variations, traction control and adverse weather conditions during the four seasons of a year. The data allows studies of the influence of traction control system and its interactions in conjunction with varying weather conditions as well as providing essential information for the analysis of future axle designs. This paper discusses the design and functionality of an ultra miniature data logger (Microlog) which was successfully used in a variety of health and usage monitoring systems within railway applications