REATK4 7D: Analyzing Environmental Impact on Rail Engineering Systems

This report examines the impact of environmental conditions on rail engineering systems, focusing on material degradation in metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites due to factors like temperature, rainfall, and winter conditions. It outlines methods to reduce environmental impact, including preventive and corrective maintenance, time-based maintenance, and predictive maintenance, as well as thermal insulation and surface treatments. The report also emphasizes safe practices for dealing with environmental emergencies, highlighting relevant legislation such as the Environment Act 1995, the Environment Protection Act 1990, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It underscores the importance of reducing hazardous substance use and implementing emergency response plans in railway companies to protect the environment. Desklib offers this and many other solved assignments to aid students in their studies.

REATK4 7D (environment condition)

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................10

MAIN BODY
Q.1. Describe working environment condition that lead to failure for a product made from
material from each four categories.
Environment condition refers to circumstances, objects or conditions in which work is done and
lead to failure of a product made from material. There are many reason for material degradation
such as, corrosion, climate, natural resources, environmental stress cracking. Adverse weather
condition like, rainfall, heatwaves, high winds, etc., is also the reason which lead to failure for a
product made from material. There are many reasons of failure of product made from material
from each four categories such as, metal, ceramics, polymers and composites (Ma and et.al.,
2018).
Hot temperature- this can lead to failure of a product made from material. Due to hot
temperature material of railway track can be degraded. Most of the track temperatures heat up to
46degree C. According to the network rail, steel rails exposed to direct sunshine becomes hot
than air temperature and as a result it causes extreme buckling.
Rainfall and floods – at the time of heavy rainfall and flood as it damages railway infrastructure.
During flood trees are fallen and it becomes difficult to identify track structure and heavy rain
can overwhelm drainage system.
Winter conditions- in winter, due to snow and ice it is difficult for train to move between tracks.
The biggest issue that rails face is cold because rails are restrained by rail anchors from
expanding. When weather gets cold, rail does not able to contract and there are chances of rail
will break.
Metal
Metal affects material quality as metal is progressive damage to a material. Corrosion is the
degradation of material as a result due to oxygen and environment. Degradation in metal affects
material quality due to fatigue, corrosion and wear (Pang and et.al., 2020). Wear is the material
which is degraded because life span of material is ended or the age of material is fininshed. High
temperatures cause rail to buckle and material properties changed due to heat. So, metal is the
reason for material degradation and affect infrastructure of railway track.
Polymers

Polymer includes, thermoplastic, rubbers, elastomers, thermoset plastic. Due to excessive heat
and structural flaws, rubber bushes can fail for this reason. Extreme cold temperature can also
affect material to become brittle. Biodegradation can occur to the material, fatigue due to
environmental exposure. Modern track uses hot rolled steel which has asymmetrical rounded
beam. Railway rails are made up of steel alloy and they are very high stress. The upper and top
side of rail does not corrode because friction and wear keep it polished and free of rust.
Ceramics
Ceramics lead to failure of a product made from material. Iron and steel is used in railway track
which are subject of steel which is of high quality. Many decades are being taken so that quality
of material can be improved and good product can be made. Iron is not used in making of
railway track because it will rust and expand more during hot temperature. These are some
material which lead to failure of a product and it can affect overall work of railway track. Hot
temperature, heavy rainfall, floods, winter condition can lead to failure of a product.
Composites
Composite material is usually an epoxy, polyester, thermosetting plastic. Railway tracks are
made of hot rolled steel with an asymmetrical rounded beam. Railway rails are not made of iron
and steel. Continuous flooding, humidity, high temperature, winter condition can impact
degradation of wood. Composites are generally made of more than two different materials which
has the ability to retain their own property. Extreme weather condition affect railway tracks as
material is degraded. Wooden sleepers are made from two type of wood i.e., hard and soft and it
adds durability in the product.
Q.2. state the methods that can be used to reduce the impact of the environment on rail
engineering system
There are different ways which helps in reducing impact of environment on rail engineering
system are, use energy more efficiently, ship goods more efficiently, consider near sourcing,
corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance, time based maintenance, zero hours
maintenance (Lee, Liu and Lee, 2020). These are some methods which is used by railway
industry to minimise impact of environment. Different methods can be used to reduce risk of
failure under certain environment conditions. It is essential to apply some methods which is
beneficial in reducing impact of the environment. Certain maintenance methods used by rail
engineering industries to reduce impact of the environment are:

Preventive maintenance- this means to carry out certain levels which helps in preventing
likelihood of certain failing methods. Preventive maintenance has systematic character which is
being inspected and there are no chance of faults. This helps in preventing environment and
reducing impact of environment on rail engineering system. It helps in eliminating premature
replacement.
Corrective maintenance- corrective maintenance refers to set of tasks which is to identify,
isolate and rectify a fault. Corrective maintenance is a simple process and cost effective method
which can be used by rail engineering system. It requires less planning and provide best solutions
which is beneficial in reducing impact of the environment on rail engineering system. This helps
in identifying defect and it is send to maintenance department so that it can be corrected.
Corrective maintenance helps in determining fault and correction is made accordingly so that
there will be no problem in future.
Time based maintenance- time based maintenance refers to an equipment which is based on a
calendar schedule. This maintenance is applied by rail engineering to minimise impact of
environment. There are different task which is included in time based maintenance such as, data
collection, retightening screws, cleaning of parts (Lubis and Mahyuddin, 2017). This can be used
for reducing impact of environment and there will be no problem in future. It is also known as
periodic maintenance.
Predictive maintenance- predictive maintenance means a method which is used for analysing
status of components used in train. It helps in representing ability of state and operational.
Predictive maintenance helps in identifying physical variables like, temperature, vibration and
power consumption which helps in identifying certain problems which appear on equipment.
This helps in analysing different components of train components and analyse values of different
variables. It is essential to use these methods for reducing impact of environment on rail
engineering system.
There are other ways which help in reducing impact of environment condition on rail
engineering system are, sprays, lubricants, surface treatment, winterstation, thermal and
electrical insulation, maintenance, sacrificial components.
Thermal and electrical insulation- it includes, fibre glass, which helps in preventing from heat
insulation. Some elements which is used in preventing heating others so that railway track did
not get affected (Alam and et.al., 2019). This can be used for reducing impact of environment.

Surface treatment- it includes certain paints which can be used to prevent corroisions, lubricants
and helps in preventing surface damage from scratching. Hardened coatings help in preventing
damage, release sprays which prevents fasteners becoming seized and corroded.
Maintenance- it allows to maintain trains through maintenance reducing impact of the
environment on rail engineering system. It helps in maintaining trains with the help of periodic
and monitoring system which is beneficial in inspection, replace and test elements. This method
can be used for reducing impact of environment on engineering system and better plans can be
made which is beneficial for growth.
Q.3. Explain safe practices that should be used when dealing with environmental
emergencies.
There are some laws and legislations which should be applied by an industry to prevent
environment. There are practices which is helpful in facing environmental emergency and help
by protecting environment as a whole. Common featured of environmental problems are both
social and physical (Lei and et.al., 2020). Environmental issues include ecosystem as a physical
issue. Social issues include other environmental problems which are not caused by different
people which is not set to harm deliberately. There are some actions which is taken by people to
solve problems like, make efficient use of resources and stop misuse of hazardous substances.
Legislations help in protecting the following like, protection of species, protection of habitats,
protection from pollution, protection of public rights of way, protection of landscape, registered
parks and historical sales. It is essential to apply laws and legislations so that environment can be
safe and it helps in dealing with the environment emergencies. Legislations help in protecting
from pollution, protection of species and public rights are also protected.
Environment act 1995
This act has been made by Act of parliament which is responsible for toxic soil disposal, quality
of water and resources. Environment act 1995 helps in reducing flood risk, conservation and
ecology, regulation of major industries and waste management. This act helps in protecting from
waste material and rules are made which helps in pollution control. This act provides polluted
land and abandoned mines, national parks, habitat protection. This act is made for the safety of
environment and this is also helps in pollution control and quality of water and resources (Zhou
and Lei, 2020.).
Environment protection act 1990

Environment protection act 1990 is made for reducing waste of material and emission. This
should be applied by industries so that environment did not get affected. This act is responsible
for protecting environment from pollution and resource management. Resources should be used
efficiently so that better products can be made and reduce wastage of resources. It is essential to
apply these laws and legislations in an industry so that pollution can be control and resources can
be used efficiently. There are other provisions which include, to amend the provisions of food
and environment protection act 1985, radioactive substances act 1960 and provision for pollution
control act 1974 which provides extension of clean air acts (Erdogan and et.al., 2020).
Wildlife and countryside act 1981
This act was reestablished as protection of birds act 1954 to 1967. This act helps in conserving
wild creatures and wild plants act 1975. This act protects endangered species, interested sites and
rights direction of rules which can be applied in national parks. Some provisions for wildlife are,
prohibition on killing of animals, restriction on introducing some plants and animals.
Safe practices are implemented because it helps in following rules and regulations and
environment is safe. Code of practices help in controlling substances which is harmful for health.
It is essential to apply safe practices and laws so that use of hazardous substances can be stopped
and pollution can be controlled. The best way to deal with an environmental hazard is to make
plans for exposure, by not using hazardous substances or use them in such a way that no one is
exposed. Another way is to prevent or minimize emission of substance to the air. It is important
to reduce use of hazardous substances and protect environment. Environment emergency
response plan can be used because it helps in eliminating, reducing or mitigating the health. It
helps in preventing safety and environmental impact of an uncontrolled or accidental release of
hazardous material (Wangai, Rohacs and Boros, 2020).
In railway companies chemicals are used which is harmful for environment such as the
use of replacing gear box oils, to remove vegetation from the track. Some hazardous substance
which is used by railway company are, substances which are made of caustics, pesticides,
aluminium, lead etc. It is the responsibility of railway company to make plans for reducing use of
harmful substances and safety measures should be taken for protecting the environment.
Companies use some methods to control harmful waste by implementing oil drums, spill kits,
COSHH is used as it helps in preventing hazardous waste from leaking into the environment.

Railway companies are planning to use resources which is not harmful and safe for the
environment.
Q.4. Explain safe practices that should be used when dealing with environmental
emergencies.
It is important to apply safe practices when facing environmental emergencies. The aim of
agency is to prevent landscape of England. They are making plans for better environment and
people can live their life safely. It is important to take necessary steps for protecting public
health and rules should be applied so that industries can reduce use of harmful substances. Target
of network rail industry is to use natural resources (He, Feng and Qu, 2017).
Environmental agency – environmental agency helps in protecting or enhance environment as a
whole. The aim of agency is to promote sustainable development in the country and make
policies which should be applied by industries for safety of environment. It is the responsibility
of agency to protect environment from pollution. Agency is taking necessary step for climate
change like, water quality, water resources and land quality. Air quality helps in releasing air
pollution in the atmosphere from industrial pollution. As railway industry is spreading pollution
in the environment and it is essential to reduce this pollution because it is affecting environment.
Land quality helps in controlling all the waste management like, sites for waste, recycling of
material, use resources efficiently to reduce wastage of material. Water quality helps in
improving surface of water quality, groundwater and control. Water resources is used to manage
use of water and conservation through water abstraction licensing.
Department for Environmental Food and rural affairs – this is the government agency which is
making plans for economic growth of country, animal protection and sustainable development
(Burdzik and et.al., 2017). the main focus of this agency is on environmental protection and
development by policies and taking corrective actions. In relation to railway, action plan is made
by department for environmental food and rural affairs (DEFRA) i.e., to determine impact of
noise mapping on the environment, human health, etc. It is important to take necessary steps for
safe and healthy environment because safe environment is good for health. Environmental
agency should take some steps to improve environment and which is beneficial in economic
growth.

Office of rail and road – the office of rail and road agency is making plans for sustainable
development. use of carbon dioxide should be reduced so that environment can be safe. Vision of
network rail is to improve environmental condition by determining effect of pollution on land,
air and how it is polluting water which is not safe for the health of people.
Rail safety and standards board – this helps in improving carbon and air quality strategies. The
aim of rail safety and standards board is to protect environment, health and well- being. It
focuses on improving energy efficiency, new power resources, new design projects etc. This is
important to take necessary steps for environment protection (Kovalchuk and et.al., 2019).

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