Rail track geometry irregularities can lead to ride discomfort for passengers and redistribution of wheel loads potentially causing derailments. Current techniques for monitoring track settlements involve the use of discrete sensors or vehicle mounted sensors, which make it difficult to capture either spatial or temporal variations in settlement. Shape Array sensors (SAA) can potentially be used to capture temporal variations in distributed track settlement profiles to monitor and investigate potential track geometry irregularities and inform track maintenance programs. In this study, a site with known ground deformation issues (i.e. soft spots) was monitored with both an SAA and intermittent LIDAR scans. The objectives of the research were to investigate the accuracy of the SAA for measuring track settlements based on a comparison with LIDAR data, use those measurements to assess track irregularities at the site, evaluate temporal and seasonal changes in rail deformation, and to gain insight into the underlying causes of the ground deformation issues. The SAA was found to provide comparable settlement measurements to those from the LIDAR with the added advantage that the data could be used to assess settlement rates. At this particular site, long-term rail settlements were found to be a function of seasonal/climatic conditions with slower settlement rates in the winter and higher rates in the summer. In addition, the measurements indicated that the deformation issues are potentially caused by an asymmetric bearing failure.

轨道几何形状的不规则会导致乘客乘坐不舒服，并重新分配车轮载荷，从而可能导致脱轨。用于监视轨道沉降的当前技术涉及离散传感器或车载传感器的使用，这使得难以捕获沉降中的空间或时间变化。Shape Array传感器（SAA）可以潜在地用于捕获分布式轨道沉降曲线中的时间变化，以监视和调查潜在的轨道几何形状不规则性并通知轨道维护程序。在这项研究中，通过SAA和间歇性LIDAR扫描对已知地面变形问题（即软斑）的站点进行了监测。这项研究的目的是根据与LIDAR数据的比较，研究SAA在测量轨道沉降中的准确性，使用这些测量值来评估现场的轨道不平整度，评估铁路变形的时间和季节性变化，并深入了解地面变形问题的根本原因。发现SAA可提供与LIDAR相比的可比沉降测量结果，其附加优点是可将数据用于评估沉降率。在这个特殊的地点，长期的铁路定居点被发现是季节/气候条件的函数，冬季的定居率较低，夏季的定居率较高。此外，测量结果表明，变形问题可能是由轴承不对称故障引起的。并深入了解地面变形问题的根本原因。发现SAA可提供与LIDAR相比的可比沉降测量结果，其附加优点是可将数据用于评估沉降率。在这个特殊的地点，长期的铁路定居点被发现是季节/气候条件的函数，冬季的定居率较低，夏季的定居率较高。此外，测量结果表明，变形问题可能是由轴承不对称故障引起的。并深入了解地面变形问题的根本原因。发现SAA可提供与LIDAR相比的可比沉降测量结果，其附加优点是可将数据用于评估沉降率。在这个特殊的地点，长期的铁路定居点是季节性/气候条件的函数，冬季的定居率较低，夏季的定居率较高。此外，测量结果表明，变形问题可能是由轴承不对称故障引起的。人们发现，长期铁路定居与季节/气候条件有关，冬季的定居率较低，夏季的定居率较高。此外，测量结果表明，变形问题可能是由轴承不对称故障引起的。人们发现，长期铁路定居与季节/气候条件有关，冬季的定居率较低，夏季的定居率较高。此外，测量结果表明，变形问题可能是由轴承不对称故障引起的。