Fault risk assessment of railway turnout ballast clearing machine based on AHP-fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method

To evaluate the fault risk of a small railway turnout ballast clearing machine, this paper employs the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess reliability based on subjective experience. Additionally, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is utilized to quantify the risk. This combined approach facilitates the construction of an objective and rational risk assessment system for the ballast-clearing machine. The four main fault factors, which include rake claw fault, bearing fault, chain fault, and sprocket fault, are analysed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and the weight value for each type of fault is determined. A fuzzy relationship matrix is then established using the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, and a comprehensive evaluation of each fault factor is conducted to obtain the probability of various faults occurring in the ballast-clearing machine. Based on the results, the fault grade of the ballast clearing machine is assessed to be of medium risk.