In mechanical braking systems, there are hot spots on the surface of a braking disc due to thermal deformation with a high thermal gradient. Controlling such hot spots is important for extending the life of a braking disc. In this study, surface temperatures of railway brake discs were monitored using infrared (IR) thermal imaging technique. A highspeed infrared camera with a maximum speed of 380 Hz was used to monitor surface temperature changes of the braking disc. Braking tests were performed with a full-scale dynamometer. During the braking test, the surface temperature change of the braking disc were monitored using a high-speed infrared camera. Hot spots and thermal damage observed on the surface of railway brake discs during braking tests were quantitatively analyzed using infrared thermographic images. Results revealed that monitoring disc surface temperature using IR thermographic technique can be a new method for predicting surface temperature changes without installing a thermocouple inside the disc.

The truck that is used as running equipment for tank freight car support is a core structural part that supports the load of the car body and significantly influences the safety of freights and vehicles, as well as their running performance. Running equipment is composed of truck frames, wheels and wheel axles, independent suspensions, and brakes. Among these components, the truck frame supporting the load of the vehicles and freights may be the most important component. This study was carried out to analyze the structure of truck frames and to determine whether they are safe when the maximum vertical load, braking part load, and the front and rear load are applied to truck frames. This was achieved by subjecting the truck frames to stress tests and then measuring the stress on each part. The results of the stress tests showed that truck frames have a safe vehicle load design.

Stress tests were conducted in the carbody of the railroad car to check the structural strength of the body of the railroad car. The objective of this study was to evaluate safety of the carbody of a railroad car under the maximal strength. The carbody of rolling stock is a principal structure that supports major equipment of the underframe and the freight. Therefore, the strength evaluation of this structure is important. This study was carried out to analyze the structure of carbody and evaluate safety under maximum vertical load, compressive load, and torsional load. Accordingly, stress tests were conducted on the carbody to measure the stress on each of their parts. Before the load test, a structural-analysis program was used for the stress distribution analysis of the body structure.