eLibrary Search
The FRA eLibrary contains all the documents that are found throughout the FRA Public Website. Multiple pages on the website may link to the same eLibrary item based on its set of metatdata.
Can I find All FRA Documents in the Library?
Some "documents" may not appear here for the following reasons:
- Document resides on an external site for the record of source, links to the document are provided in context but not in the library as FRA does not maintain this record. This document lives on another website.
- Document has not yet been assigned keywords.
- Document is historical and has been removed from library to avoid confusion with current publications.
- Document is public affairs & policy related, such as press releases, speeches, testimony, or fact sheet. These press-related documents can now be found in the FRA Newsroom.
- Document is related to rules and notices. This information can now be found on the Rulemakings search and the Notices search, respectively.
Technical Reports
Determinations of Dynamic Fracture Toughness Properties of Rail Steels
Keywords: Fracture Mechanics, Residual Stress, Finite Element Analysis, Crack Arrest, Full-Section Impact Test, Beam-on-Elastic Foundational Model
Abstract: Motivated by the occurrence of a long-running rail web fracture in service, dynamic fracture mechanics research was undertaken to (1) quantify the crack driving force due to the...
Technical Reports
Ultrasonic Inspection of Railroad Rails by Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs)
Keywords: Defects, Laboratory Testing, Nondestructive Inspection, Field Testing, Shear-Horizontal Waves, Shear-Radial Waves
Abstract: EMATs offer unique characteristics that appear to be advantageous for inspection of railroad rails. These characteristics include the features that EMATs do not require a liquid...
Technical Reports
Effects of Rail Profile Variation
Keywords: Heumann Wheel Profile, Rail Corrugation, Rail Grinding, Rail Wear, Rail Wheel Radius
Abstract: Railroads in various countries including the United States have found that benefits may be obtained by grinding rails to an 'asymmetric' profile rather than to the original 'new'...
Technical Reports
Structure and Properties of Thermite Welds in Premium Rails
Keywords: Mechanical Properties, Residual Stresses
Abstract: Thermite welds were used to join combinations of premium rails and AREA Controlled Cooled Carbon rails (i.e., standard rails). The premium rails comprised head-hardened rails and...
Technical Reports
Evaluation of a Prototype Acoustic Signature Inspection System for Railroad Wheels
Keywords: Wheels, Acoustic
Abstract: A description is given of considerations in the design of a prototype acoustic signature inspection system for railroad wheels. The evolution of each of the components of the...