Studying strategies for Preventing Frost, and Defrosting the Railroads Switch and Presenting Optimal Solution using Analytical Hierarchy Process

Nowadays, one of the most important issues associated with the maintenance and repairing procedure of ballasted tracks, especially at the switches and rail crossings, is to cope with the frosty weather conditions, crisis management and repel its destructive influences. Switches on railroads play an important role in the management of rail fleet traffic, and their improper and delayed operation can lead to crises and disasters. Examination of the meteorological data shows that 51 percent of domestic railway network area experience temperature less than -20 centigrade and 96 percent less than zero centigrade in past 50 years. Accordingly, it is vital to hire proper approaches and consume regarding instruments and technologies in the frosty seasons. Therefore, this paper firstly investigates the instructions, proceedings, methods, and approaches which are commonly performed in frosty seasons, and then, by preparing a related questionnaire and utilizing Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert Choice software following by the consults and comments of experts, suggests the brush spoiler technology in addition to the heater as an optimal method to prevent freezing, icing, and snow heaping in switches.