Wheel-railhead force measurement system and method having cross-talk removed

Abstract

A system and method for removing cross-talk in measured forces between a railway wheel set and the railhead of underlying track such as found in angle of attack measurements for shallow curvature track. The angle of attack for the leading and trailing sets of wheels in trucks of rail vehicles is measured traveling over track in a wayside system. At a first point on the outside rail of a track vertical force is measured with a first vertical strain gage, lateral force is measured with a first lateral strain gage and an outside angle of attack timing signal is measured with a first angle of attack strain gage. This process is repeated on the inside track so that a raw angle of attack for each set of wheels can be determined based upon speed and time difference. Position signals obtained from position strain gages are used to remove cross-talk thereby improving accuracy. The sensed position signals are calibrated to known forces on the railhead.