Ultrasonic and Eddy-current inspection of rail wheels and wheel set axles

As a means of transport, the railway is gaining in importance, and this has inspired a large number of innovations. International rail traffic, for example, and logistics solutions need to be improved, but technical safety must also be guaranteed, especially for high-speed trains. Reliability and availability of high-speed trains depends significantly on the quality of wheels, wheel sets and wheel set axles. There are, indeed, already a large number of national and international rules and regulations, for example on the inspection of wheels, wheel sets and tracks, which take this into account. European and - not least - Fraunhofer research together with industrial partners have assumed a leading role in this process, resulting in international demand for inspection systems developed in Europe. Having said that, the systems do need to be adapted to suit national specifications.