Parameter estimation for rail degradation model

Wear and fatigue in rails are major contributors of rail degradation depending on operational conditions, track, characteristics of bogie type, Million Gross Tonnes (MGT), curvature, traffic type and environmental conditions. Estimation of parameter for failure models is necessary for accurate prediction of expected number of rail defects over a period of time based on MGT of traffic and operating conditions for developing cost effective maintenance strategies. This paper focuses on collection and analysis of field data over a period of time for estimation of parameter for modelling rail life.