Convenient Procedure for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fastening Systems in Urban Railway Tracks

Electrical resistance is among the characteristics that fastening systems must meet to ensure the proper functioning of signaling systems in railway infrastructure. The EN 13146-5:2012 standard specifies a laboratory testing method for determining the electrical resistance under wet conditions betwe...

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Main Authors: Katarina Vranešić, Ivo Haladin, Stjepan Lakušić, Krešimir Burnać
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/4/1990
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author Katarina Vranešić
Ivo Haladin
Stjepan Lakušić
Krešimir Burnać
author_facet Katarina Vranešić
Ivo Haladin
Stjepan Lakušić
Krešimir Burnać
author_sort Katarina Vranešić
collection DOAJ
description Electrical resistance is among the characteristics that fastening systems must meet to ensure the proper functioning of signaling systems in railway infrastructure. The EN 13146-5:2012 standard specifies a laboratory testing method for determining the electrical resistance under wet conditions between running rails provided by a fastening system on steel or concrete sleepers. In urban railway tracks, the electrical resistance of fastening systems affects the stray current; however, there is no standardized electrical resistance measuring method. There is also no definition for the minimum value that the electrical resistance of fastening systems must satisfy to prevent stray currents. For this reason, this paper analysis the possibility of using the standard EN 13146-5:2012 for the measurement and analysis of the electrical resistance of fastening systems in urban railway tracks. In this study, the electrical resistance of different fastening systems used in urban railway tracks was measured. Based on the tests results, the modifications needed in the EN 13146-5 standard for it to be suitable for urban railway tracks were identified. The proposed modifications include the use of a DC current source. The test should be performed on a rail sample fastened to the concrete base, and the current circuit should be closed by the reference electrode installed in the base. Spraying water from nozzles is not applicable for this measurement. The test should be performed under dry conditions and at different water levels (water on the top of the concrete base and on the top of the levelling layer). Different water levels were used to simulate the most common conditions in urban railway tracks built as part of the road surface, where the track-drying process is very slow. The test should not be performed when the rails are immersed in water, because the current flows directly from the rail into the water in such case, and the fastening system has no influence on the measured electrical resistance value. In addition to describing the proposed changes, the calculation of the minimum electrical resistance value that fastening systems in urban railway tracks must satisfy is also presented.
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spelling doaj.art-686964b47fd741b79b475c4780755d9d2023-11-16T20:20:38ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-02-01164199010.3390/en16041990Convenient Procedure for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fastening Systems in Urban Railway TracksKatarina Vranešić0Ivo Haladin1Stjepan Lakušić2Krešimir Burnać3Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaElectrical resistance is among the characteristics that fastening systems must meet to ensure the proper functioning of signaling systems in railway infrastructure. The EN 13146-5:2012 standard specifies a laboratory testing method for determining the electrical resistance under wet conditions between running rails provided by a fastening system on steel or concrete sleepers. In urban railway tracks, the electrical resistance of fastening systems affects the stray current; however, there is no standardized electrical resistance measuring method. There is also no definition for the minimum value that the electrical resistance of fastening systems must satisfy to prevent stray currents. For this reason, this paper analysis the possibility of using the standard EN 13146-5:2012 for the measurement and analysis of the electrical resistance of fastening systems in urban railway tracks. In this study, the electrical resistance of different fastening systems used in urban railway tracks was measured. Based on the tests results, the modifications needed in the EN 13146-5 standard for it to be suitable for urban railway tracks were identified. The proposed modifications include the use of a DC current source. The test should be performed on a rail sample fastened to the concrete base, and the current circuit should be closed by the reference electrode installed in the base. Spraying water from nozzles is not applicable for this measurement. The test should be performed under dry conditions and at different water levels (water on the top of the concrete base and on the top of the levelling layer). Different water levels were used to simulate the most common conditions in urban railway tracks built as part of the road surface, where the track-drying process is very slow. The test should not be performed when the rails are immersed in water, because the current flows directly from the rail into the water in such case, and the fastening system has no influence on the measured electrical resistance value. In addition to describing the proposed changes, the calculation of the minimum electrical resistance value that fastening systems in urban railway tracks must satisfy is also presented.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/4/1990urban railway trackrail-fastening systemelectrical resistancerail-to-earth resistancestray current
spellingShingle Katarina Vranešić
Ivo Haladin
Stjepan Lakušić
Krešimir Burnać
Convenient Procedure for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fastening Systems in Urban Railway Tracks
Energies
urban railway track
rail-fastening system
electrical resistance
rail-to-earth resistance
stray current
title Convenient Procedure for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fastening Systems in Urban Railway Tracks
title_full Convenient Procedure for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fastening Systems in Urban Railway Tracks
title_fullStr Convenient Procedure for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fastening Systems in Urban Railway Tracks
title_full_unstemmed Convenient Procedure for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fastening Systems in Urban Railway Tracks
title_short Convenient Procedure for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fastening Systems in Urban Railway Tracks
title_sort convenient procedure for measuring the electrical resistance of fastening systems in urban railway tracks
topic urban railway track
rail-fastening system
electrical resistance
rail-to-earth resistance
stray current
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/4/1990
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