Mariusz Kostrzewski

Condition monitoring of railway track systems by using acceleration signals on wheelset axle-boxes

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the possibilities of estimating the track condition using axle-boxes and car-bodies motions described by acceleration signals. In the paper, the results presented indicate the condition of tracks obtained from the preliminary investigation on the test track. Furthermore, the results from the supervised runs (on Polish Railway Lines) of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU-ED74) with the prototype of track quality monitoring system installed on-board are described. As Track Quality Indicator (TQI) algorithm, used in the mentioned prototype, a modified Karhunen–Loeve transformation is used in preliminary preparation of acceleration signals. The transformation is used to extract the principal dynamics from measurement data. Obtained results are compared to other methods of evaluating the geometrical track quality, namely methods, which apply the synthetic coefficient Jsynth and five parameters of defectiveness W5. The results from the investigation showed that track condition estimation is possible with acceptable accuracy for in-service use and for defining cost-effective maintenance strategies. First published online 04 September 2017

One Design Issue – Many Solutions. Different Perspectives of Design Thinking – Case Study

This paper compares chosen results of one design issue which was assigned to different groups of courses’ participants (in different educational programs, given in this abstract in parenthesis): high school students (Creative Team Project course), university students (two separate groups: one group consisted of students from university in Poland and the second group consisted of students from different EU countries - Creative Semester Project course and Design Methods in Logistics and Transportation course) and adults who wanted to enrich their skills in the fields of creativity and entrepreneurship (Innovative Soft Skills and Entrepreneurship Training). Appropriate literature review, description of programs and used methodologies, relative results and findings and conclusion are also given in the paper. The paper also indicates the subjective thoughts of author on the covered topics.

Securing of safety by monitoring of technical parameters in warehouse racks, in high-bay warehouses and high storage warehouses – literature review of the problem

Background: The main objective of the paper is to develop a theoretical basis and a concept of the monitoring procedure of the technical parameters of warehouse racks, focusing on high-bay warehouses and high storage warehouses. Author describes potential plan for conducting his research based on simulation methods and, in the longer term, to conduct research based on existing objects (high-bay warehouses and high storage warehouses). Material and methods: Simulation models in proposed research ought to be prepared based on analytical models specified in the literature. The simulation models are going to be investigated and subjected to numerical research of yield moments computing and evaluation, as well as shear stiffness and other parameters. Displacement of rack elements and settlement of racks are also going to be researched. Fatigue and wear of the elements are going to be analysed. The gained results are going to be subjected under statistical analyses. Results: In the paper, theoretical discussion about subject matter is given. Conclusion: In the light of the labour code, any warehouse manager is responsible for the safety of employees. Therefore, one should be aware, that even the racks of best design, which have been assembled incorrectly, in practice produce a large risk of a crash and generate equally large threat to the lives of employees working in its potential vicinity. The problem gets more severe in case of high-bay warehouses and high storage warehouses. Therefore, preparation of the monitoring procedure of the technical parameters of racks in warehouses is of highest priority, because of importance of human life and value of safety improvement.