We are compatible with all DOT 49 CFR Part 213 rules.
Real-time assessment of rail flaws
The Rail-Bound Flaw Inspection System is designed for installation on a customer-supplied rail-bound vehicle for ultrasonic testing of rail at a maximum of 60 km/h (under optimal rail conditions). The system inspects both rails simultaneously and can locate defects through GPS coordinates or chainage measurements for transit customers.
Digital signal processing
The Rail-Bound Flaw Inspection System also features 24-, 32-, or 48-channel digital signal processing (depending on customer needs), allowing real-time sequential data processing, improved signal-to-noise ratios, and higher testing speeds with fewer false positive test results.
Recordable test results
Test results are fully recordable, meaning you can store, evaluate, and compare results at a later time.Nordco can create reports for uptime, movement, defect details, and more.
Dual Display Formats
Nordco's Windows-based rail flaw inspection software processes ultrasonic data to measure signal amplitude, signal time, and distance traveled. Operator-controlled functionality includes channel gates, gains, and thresholds. Two independent display formats are available:
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Strip Chart Event Recorder format - quickly shows potential defects using channel patterns. Typical data responses appear on the three main channels; any indications on other channels potentially mean a possible defect. Operators monitor the channels on the strip chart, watching for indications outside the main channels. When a flaw indication appears, operators re-test the rail segment to confirm that the indication is repeatable and consistent. If yes, the operator marks the rail segment for further analysis.
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Consolidated B-Scan format - quickly shows a cross-sectional plane view of a rail segment, displayed as a two-dimensional plot. Similar to the strip chart format, typical data responses appear in the main channels area; any indications outside that area potentially mean a possible defect. Operators monitor the channels on the B-scan, watching for abnormal indications. When a flaw indication appears, operators re-test the rail segment to confirm that the indication is repeatable and consistent. If yes, the operator marks the rail segment for further analysis.
Pattern recognition software
Nordco's pattern recognition software incorporates multi-level artificial intelligence to recognize common rail conditions, as well as recognize and classify defects. It is an adaptive learning system that adds new defects to the library as they are analyzed, allowing the system to recognize new defects automatically.
The system recognizes that it has encountered a certain rail structure, such as a joint. Therefore, when there are indications outside that rail structure, the system classifies these outside indications as defects.
Pattern recognition enhances the split-second decisions that Chief Operators make since it brings potential anomalies to their attention. In addition, the adaptive learning capability means that as more defects are assessed, the library of recognizable defects grows for future use.