Technical Reports
Improved Roller Bearing Wayside Detection Research: Phase III System Evaluation Test
TTCI conducted a series of simulated revenue service tests with a train of 8 cars containing wheel sets with specific roller bearing defects and wheel sets with good bearings. The purpose of the test was the evaluation of improved wayside acoustic bearing detection systems. The tests were conducted...Economics of Heavy Axle Loads: Predicted and Actual Benefits of HAL Operations
Over the past 15 years, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (formerly Research and Test Department of the Association of American Railroads) has devoted a great deal of research to technical and economic issues related to increasing axle loads tinder a program jointly funded by the Association...Crosstie and Fastener Tests at FAST: 1988-1999
The Heavy Axle Load (HAL) implementation program began in 1988 with the objective of developing economically optimal and safe axle loads for North American railroads. This research is currently being conducted by the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTC), a subsidiary of the Association of...Advanced Railroad Wheel/Rail Interaction Force Measurement
The Phase I research into the development of a novel, cost effective and efficient wheel/rail interaction force measurement system demonstrated the ability to use silicon strain gauges, fabricated with MEMS manufacturing techniques, to measure the types of forces seen in car wheels. Silicon strain...Vehicle/Track Interaction Tests on Heavy Tonnage Loop
Two vehicle/track interaction tests were conducted by Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST), Pueblo, Colorado. TTCI, a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), performed the tests on FAST's Heavy Tonnage Loop (HTL) in...Test and Evaluation of Rail Flaw Detection Technologies
Internal flaws in rail occur as a consequence of the accumulation of fatigue under repeated loading. Inspection of the rail to detect flaws before they progress to complete failure is thus very important. Advanced nondestructive inspection techniques are being pursued to improve rail safety,...