Rail Corrugation

High-precision systems for measurement of longitudinal surface defects

← View all Railway Scan Monitoring Systems

Corrugation refers to periodic, wave-like surface defects on the rail head that can lead to noise, vibration and accelerated wear of both track and rolling stock.
To address this issue, ADTS offers two complementary solutions for rail corrugation detection, tailored to different inspection needs and platforms:

Laser-based systems for high-precision, profile-referenced analysis using triangulation and visual data.
Eddy current sensor systems for fast, non-contact surface defect detection across multiple wavelength bands.

These technologies are available in both portable trolleys and onboard configurations, supporting pre and post-grinding inspections as well as continuous monitoring for maintenance planning.

Laser Triangulation System

An optical, contactless measurement system designed for detailed analysis of rail surface corrugation. It combines lasers and high-resolution cameras to detect wavelength-based surface defects with high precision and stability.

Measurement speed	Up to 30 km/h
Sampling step	Adjustable between 2–5 mm
Wavelenght (mm)	30÷100, 100÷300, 300÷1000
Reproducibility	±30 μm (30–100 mm RMS); ±50 μm (100–300 mm RMS); ±200 μm (300–1000 mm RMS);
Operating temperature	–25°C to +45°C

RCM10 Sensors System

System based on eddy current sensors. Designed for grinding operations over long track sections. Detects corrugation across frequency bands, supporting periodic rail maintenance planning.

Wave Partner - Portable Trolley

A lightweight, fully automated trolley for non-contact rail corrugation inspection.
Equipped with eddy current sensors, it detects surface defects from 10 to 1000 mm in wavelength with micrometric precision.
Available in single or dual rail configurations, it provide real-time data visualization and post-analysis tools, making it ideal for both pre and post-grinding inspections.