ABSTRACT
I. Philosophy and History of Gauging ................................................................................ 182
A. Gauges ...................................................................................................................... 183
1. Static Gauges..................................................................................................... 183
2. Geometric or Swept Gauges ............................................................................. 183
B. Swept Envelopes ...................................................................................................... 184
1. Kinematic Envelopes......................................................................................... 184
2. Dynamic Envelopes........................................................................................... 184
C. Hybrid Gauges ......................................................................................................... 184
1. Pseudokinematic Gauges................................................................................... 184
2. Kinematic Gauges ............................................................................................. 184
D. International Methods .............................................................................................. 185
1. UIC .................................................................................................................... 185
II. Components of Gauging .................................................................................................. 187
A. Structure ................................................................................................................... 187
1. Shape ................................................................................................................. 187
2. Accuracy of Measurement ................................................................................ 187
B. Track......................................................................................................................... 189
1. Track Position.................................................................................................... 189
2. Track Geometry................................................................................................. 189
C. Vehicle ..................................................................................................................... 191
1. Geometric Considerations — Overthrow on Curves........................................ 191
2. Kinematic Considerations ................................................................................. 192
a. Movement from Curving Forces................................................................. 192
b. Movement due to Motion............................................................................ 193
c. Critical Speeds............................................................................................. 193
d. Effect of Loading......................................................................................... 195
e. Time Factors................................................................................................ 196
f. Vehicle Height............................................................................................. 196
3. Vehicle Tolerances ............................................................................................ 196
a. Tilting Trains............................................................................................... 197
i. Effects of Speed ................................................................................... 199
ii. Critical Speeds ..................................................................................... 199
iii. Time Factors ........................................................................................ 200
b. Advanced Modelling ................................................................................... 201
III. Interaction between Gauging Components...................................................................... 202
A. Vehicle-Track Interaction....................................................................................... 202
1. Wheelset Movement.......................................................................................... 202
B. Track-Structure Interaction .................................................................................... 204
1. Track Tolerances ............................................................................................... 204
a. Lateral Track Positional Tolerance............................................................. 204
b. Vertical Track Positional Tolerance ........................................................... 204
c. Cross-Level Error ........................................................................................ 204
d. Sidewear ...................................................................................................... 204
C. Structure-Vehicle Interaction ................................................................................. 205
1. Clearances.......................................................................................................... 205
2. Stepping Distances ............................................................................................ 206
References..................................................................................................................................... 206
Gauging is the name given to the techniques used to ensure that rail vehicles fit through the
infrastructure and pass by each other in safety. Increasingly, there is emphasis on maximising the
capacity of the railway corridor through a more thorough understanding of the gauging system, and
reducing conservatism in the processes that ensured adequate space was available when the
railways were first built.
