Railroads
Analysis of Historical Non-Destructive Evaluation Probability of Detection Data for Railroad Tank Cars
From 1996 to 2016, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) analyzed historical probability of detection (POD) data for the fusion welded tank car butt welds (BW) and fillet welds (FW) inspection using Code of Federal Regulation (CFR)-approved nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods. The...
Analysis of Historical Non-Destructive Evaluation Probability of Detection Data for Railroad Tank Cars: Appendices A Through I
This appendices summarizes the number of observations, misses, hits, and false calls for each interval for fillet welds (FW) for all operators and for each nondestructive evaluation (NDE) method applied in Appendix A. Appendix B summarizes the median frequency of hits and misses for the...
Automated Broken Spike Detection – Phase I
Rail spikes connect railroad rails to the supporting crossties and secure tie plates and crossties together. Recent field inspections and observations have revealed broken spike failures (cut spikes and drive/screw spikes) when used with elastic fastener tie plates in mountainous, high-degree...
Compliance Testing for Locomotive LED Headlights and Auxiliary Lights, Phase IV
This report describes the work performed during Phase IV compliance testing of light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures used as locomotive headlights and auxiliary lights. The purpose was to study the performance of the lamps under severe cold weather conditions. Researchers sought to determine...
Compliance Testing for Locomotive LED Headlights and Auxiliary Lights, Phase III
This report describes the compliance testing of light-emitting diode fixtures used as locomotive headlights and auxiliary lights. The purpose of Phase III testing was to study the ability of observers to identify inconspicuous visual targets along the track, the pattern formed by the locomotive...
Bond-Slip Relationships of Wires Used in Pretensioned Concrete Railroad Ties
KSU developed special wire testing frames and procedures to measure bond-slip performance of prestressing wires (or strands) in concrete. The test called for applying tension to the wires prior to casting the concrete and then slowly releasing the prestress force into the concrete. Forces and...
Prestressing Steel and Concrete Variables Affecting Transfer Length in Pretensioned Concrete Crossties
This report highlights advances in understanding the prestressing steel and concrete properties that affect the transfer length (TL) in pretensioned concrete crossties. Transfer length values in pretensioned concrete ties are highly dependent on the type of wire indentation pattern used and the...