Advanced Real-Time Rail Monitoring System Based on Directional Eddy Current Probe

Preliminary laboratory evaluations of the portable prototype, using studs with rolling contact fatigue (RCF) defects, confirmed its ability to detect anomalies at progressively higher scanning speeds. The eddy current inspection results were corroborated through ultrasonic testing (UT) to assess defect depth profiles. To quantitatively assess system performance, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated. Field deployment followed, where the system was mounted on a Geismar TC Track Screwdriver and tested on an R50 rail segment in the Almaty region of southern Kazakhstan. The system successfully identified spalling, indentation, and shelling defects, achieving an SNR greater than 4.5, thereby demonstrating its effectiveness for reliable rail defect detection in operational environments.