Technical Reports

Experimental Investigation of Gauge Widening and Rail Restraint Characteristics

Gauge widening resulting from a loss of adequate rail restraint is one of the major track failure modes and the cause of a large number of derailments. A recent field and laboratory test program conducted by the Transportation Systems Center aimed at the determination of minimum rail strength...

Overview of Railroad Bridges and Assessment of Methods to Monitor Railroad Bridge Integrity

This report provides background information on the numbers and types of railroad bridges existing in the U.S. The risk to these bridges is discussed including the initiating causes of accidents and their physical effects on bridges. Examples of railroad bridge train accidents are briefly...

ICE/U.S. Demonstration Vehicle Dynamics Tests Test Report

This test report documents the procedures events, and results of vehicle dynamic tests carried out on the German ICE trainset in the U.S. during July 1993. These tests, sponsored by Amtrak and supported by the FRA, were conducted to assess the suitability of the ICE trainset for safe operation at...

Validation of A 70-Ton Higher Speed Freight Truck Design for Operations of up to 125 Mph—Higher Speed Freight Truck Vehicle Dynamics Analysis

Previously, Sharma & Associates, Inc. (SA) developed a higher speed freight truck design under sponsorship of the Federal Railroad Administration. Under the current contract, SA was tasked with developing performance requirements for higher speed freight trucks, as well as conducting structural...

Load Environment of Rail Joint Bars – Phase III Assessment of the Effects of Installation and Maintenance Practices

A series of tests, aimed at assessing the structural integrity of joint bars under differing service conditions, were conducted to address concerns regarding joint bar failures in the revenue service environment. Data collected through the course of this study revealed that bending stress invoked...

Track Renewal System and Wood Tie Reuse Analysis

This report presents the results of an analytical study of the technical and economic feasibility of applying the track renewal method of railroad track maintenance in the United States. Track renewal, or out-of-face renewal, has long been the prevailing form of track maintenance used in Europe...

Evaluation of Railroad Lime Slurry Stabilization

-This report describes a multifaceted investigation into the application of lime slurry pressure injection (LSPI) to stabilize and improve railroad roadbeds." - Area-s discussed include (1) the current state of lime-injection technology, (2) soil exploration and testing related to the use of...

Dynamic Buckling Test Analyses of a High Degree CWR Track

Thermal buckling of railroad tracks in the lateral plane is an important problem in the design and maintenance of continuous welded rail (CWR) tracks. The work reported here is part of a major investigation carried out by the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center for the Federal...

Crashworthiness Testing of Amtrak's Tradtional Coach Seat

Tests have been conducted on Amtrak's traditional passenger seat to evaluate its performance under static and dynamic loading conditions. Quasi-static tests have been conducted to establish the load-deflection characteristics of the seat. Dynamic tests of selected collision conditions have also...

Concrete and Wood Tie Performance Through 425 MGT

This study is the third in a series which has reviewed the performance of concrete and wood tie track at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST). It presents an evaluation of both types of track through 425 million gross tons (MGT) of service In the FAST Track at the Transportation...

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Technical Reports