Multiconductor Transmission Line (MTL) models of railroad track were used to simulate and explore the effects of broken rails and track occupation. The objective was a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of transmitting coded bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy into the rails ahead of locomotives and analyzing the reflected pulses to detect rail breaks. The models were used to determine how RF pulses propagate through the rails and how they interact with rail breaks as well as with normal discontinuities such as turnouts. Specifically, they were used to test the feasibility of coupling coded, differential RF pulses into the rails (ahead of the locomotive’s lead axle) and analyzing reflected pulses to detect and calculate the distance to the rail break or track occupancy. The existing models were extended to simulate combinations of track conditions, rail break types, train location, and movement patterns. The investigative approach was basically to extend the capabilities of an existing model, and use it to perform a series of simulations. These would be designed to assess how well the proposed technology would work for accurately detecting broken rail and the location of other trains ahead of the locomotive on which the system would be installed. The findings of this project were used to determine whether further development of this concept, including prototype development and testing, would be warranted.
The final report for this IDEA project can be found at:
