Modelling rail vehicle brake pad wearout and replacement

Inspections of rail vehicle multiple units are scheduled in British Rail mainly subject to the recommended interval between inspections of brake pads. This paper presents the development of a model of brake pad wear based on regression analysis and its subsequent use in the consideration of replacement and inspection strategies. The current scrapping size of 11 mm on motor vehicles proved to be too high for it was possible to extend pad life by as much as a third by reducing the scrapping size to 7 mm. On trailer vehicles it was found that the current scrapping size of 6 mm was satisfactory.