Improvement of Efficiency in Routine Inspection of Shinkansen Vehicle Axles


Hiromichi ISHIZUKA


The fracture mechanical calculation, fatigue test using a full scale axle, and ultrasonic inspection test are performed to improve the efficiency in routine inspection of Shinkansen vehicle axles. Two improvements are proposed. One is to extend the cycle of ultrasonic inspection to be performed now every 30,000km run in regular inspection. The other is to omitt the magnetic particle inspection to be performed now every 450,000km run in bogie inspection. From the above mentioned changes, we conclude that it is possible to extend the cycle of ultrasonic inspection and to omit the magnetic particle inspection as far as the service stress and the residual stress are kept almost equal to the current level.