2023 Dr. Piyush Punetha
Post Graduate Thesis Award 2023
Thesis: DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR OF BALESTED RAILWAY TRACK WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TRANSITION ZONES
2023 Post Graduate Thesis Award
Winner
Dr. Piyush Punetha
Doctor of Philosophy
Place of Study: University of Technology Sydney
Rail infrastructure managers have long been concerned about the poor performance of transition zones in railway tracks, which are highly vulnerable to differential settlement and require frequent maintenance to ensure passenger safety and comfort. In his PhD study, Dr Piyush Punetha has developed a novel methodology for predicting the dynamic behavior of transition zones under train-induced repeated dynamic loading and assessed the suitability of different countermeasures in improving the track performance. Using a rheological approach, he considered the inhomogeneous support conditions along the track and successfully validated his methodology with published field data and finite element (FE) analyses. This methodology provides practicing railway engineers with reliable techniques for analyzing the performance of different sections of ballasted railway tracks, identifying effective methods for improving track performance, planning maintenance operations, and enhancing design. As a result of this PhD study, nine journal publications and conference presentations have been prepared.
Dr. Piyush Punetha accepting his Post Graduate Thesis Award in Melbourne, June 2023 at CORE2023 (also pictured Roy Unny, National Executive Chair of the RTSA, Prof Clive Roberts, Director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) and Robert Moffat, CEO Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation)
Runner Up #1
Dr Christophe Camille
THESIS: FEASIBILITY STUDY ON MACO SYNTHETIC FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE FOR SLEEPER APPLICATIONS
Doctor of Philosophy
Place of Study: Western Sydney University, Australia
Dr Christophe Camille is awarded to be the Runner Up of the RTSA 2023 PhD Thesis Award for his thesis which evaluates the feasibility of an innovative design solution to address the performance reliability, sustainability and cost-efficiency of macro synthetic fibre reinforced concrete for sleeper applications. With the increase in railway traffic and axle loads over the last few decades, traditional sleepers are experiencing more premature failure, resulting in significant maintenance costs. While concerns about the sleeper materials (i.e. timber, steel or prestressed concrete)
have long been acknowledged, in practice, replacement with composite alternatives remains fairly limited.
Dr Christophe’s research is concerned with comprehensively understanding the effects of macro synthetic fibre reinforcement on the material and structural properties of concrete, which also addresses gaps in the existing literature prior to sleeper applications. Further, the design methodology identifies the partial or complete replacement of prestressing steel with sustainable fibre reinforcement technology to reduce corrosion risks and improve life cycle costs of concrete sleepers, which are not typically addressed in railway standards and the current literature.
This thesis is supported by 15 publications that have been accepted or published in internationally renowned journals and conferences. Work included in this thesis has also been presented or has been registered to present at seven railway related conferences. Dr Christophe’s research outcomes provide profound evidence and significant contribution in promoting the adaption of macro synthetic fibre reinforced concrete in railway sleepers.
Dr Christophe Camille accepting his Post Graduate Thesis Award in Melbourne, June 2023 at CORE2023 (also pictured Roy Unny, National Executive Chair of the RTSA, Prof Clive Roberts, Director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) and Robert Moffat, CEO Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation)
Runner up #2
Dr Esteban Bernal Arango
THESIS: SMART SENSOR NODE FOR FREIGHT WAGON CONDITION MONITORING SYSTEMS
Doctor of Philosophy
Place of Study: Central Queensland University
Dr Esteban Bernal Arango is awarded to be the Runner Up of the RTSA 2023 PhD Thesis Award for his thesis work in developing an innovative sensor node hardware architecture and algorithms for a practical on-wagon monitoring device, with low power usage and sufficient on-board calculation capability to provide warning messages when a fault emerges.
An ideal Condition Based Maintenance application for freight railway wagons would consist of a wireless self-powered electronic device installed on each vehicle, detecting and communicating parameters such as brake, bearing or wheel faults, and dynamic instabilities. Such a monitoring device has not been achieved yet, mainly because of the lack of electricity on-board the vehicles and the cost of instrumenting massive fleets.
Dr Esteban’s research work reviewed the Internet of Things (IoT), integrated systems and fault detection techniques and developed a wheel flat defect as a case study to develop and investigate the proposed condition monitoring sensor node. Railway vehicle dynamic behaviour was simulated to determine operating conditions for the device and the nature of the signals to be monitored. The device concept was firstly proven by combining vehicle dynamic simulations with a physical prototype of the on-wagon fault detection analogue circuit. Subsequently, a hardware prototype version of the circuit was constructed and tested on a scaled bogie rig. The proposed sensor node hardware architecture effectively reduced power consumption and memory requirements for detecting a wheel flat defect using on-board acceleration signals.
This thesis is supported by four high quality peer-reviewed journal papers and two conference papers. Dr Esteban’s research method and prototype provide potential for improving safety and operational efficiency of large fleets of unpowered railway vehicles.
Dr Esteban Bernal Arango accepting his Post Graduate Thesis Award in Melbourne, June 2023 at CORE2023 (also pictured Roy Unny, National Executive Chair of the RTSA, Prof Clive Roberts, Director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) and Robert Moffat, CEO Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation)