This paper describes the phenomenon of thermal conicity (TC) of railway wheels that occurs as the result of excessive thermal loads generated in the process of braking using brake blocks and then cooling to ambient temperature. The TC phenomenon is described using a standard BA004 railway wheel and load values derived from the TSI ‘Rolling stock’ guidelines. A methodology for determining the thermal loads created during braking is described, as well as the individual stages of the creation of a model based on the finite element method.

This article presents the methodology, description, and results of experimental studies aimed at determining the impact of the copper concentration in a carbon–metal composite contact strip on the maximum temperature of the copper contact wire during a contact event when used for operation in the railway industry in Europe. Based on these tests, we determined the minimum percentage of copper that is required for the composite to meet the normative requirements for current loads. In addition to experimental research, a 3D FEM numerical model was also developed in which the contact strip and contact wire geometry were mapped, along with imposed loads resulting from the test for current loads mentioned above. Fifteen simulation variants were carried out for the established model, where the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient and the specific heat coefficient were varied. On this basis, we analyzed the sensitivity of thermal coefficients to the contact wire temperature and determined the minimum conductivity coefficient value, which allowed the maximum copper contact wire temperature of 120 °C to be obtained during the verification tests.

The paper presents extended abstract on research on rail vibration caused by passing train. The purpose of the investigation was analysis of information capacity of vibration signal in case of different types of railway vehicles. The research was conducted on real rail track with regular operational environment. The measurement system consisted of three 3-axial vibration acceleration sensors and a data-acquisition device registering continuous waveforms of signals. The result analysis present shapes of the signals for separate periods and as comparison for different rail vehicles.

The article presents an analysis of the possibility of using a smartphone for sound recording and analysis in relation to reference measurements carried out with laboratory equipment. The scope of the possibility of using recordings by non-calibrated noise measurement (smartphones) was presented,...

Classic methods of stocktaking big game living in a given area have many disadvantages. The main result is the need to ensure appropriate terrain and weather conditions and also require the involvement of a large number of people, so-called observers. The development of technology makes it possible to create new stocktaking methods that will not have as many of the above-mentioned disadvantages, while reducing the cost of stocktaking and increasing its accuracy. This paper presents an analysis of the possibility of using unmanned aerial vehicles, so-called drones, in combination with the observation of game in the infrared wave range with the use of a thermal imaging camera. The paper presents the concept of such a solution, which will of course be further developed. Raids are planned with the use of thermal cameras over areas according to strictly defined transects and subjecting the obtained images to analysis, also with the use of artificial intelligence methods. This article was written as part of the PBL project carried out by a group of students from the Silesian University of Technology under the supervision of dr inż. Arkadiusz Boczkowski.