Experimental Determination of Crack Growth in Rails Subjected to Long-Term Cyclic Fatigue Loading

It is well known that one of the most significant causes of train derailments within the U.S. is due to rail fracture. Despite this fact, a reliable model for predicting fatigue fracture in rails has not yet been deployed within the U.S. The research team has recently been developing a multiscale computational algorithm for predicting crack evolution in ductile solids subjected to long-term cyclic loading. In this part of the UTCRS the team will perform intricate experiments on rails with internal cracks as a means of both obtaining material properties and validating an advanced computational model under development in their companion proposal entitled Computational Model for Predicting Fracture in Rails Subjected to Long-Term Cyclic Fatigue Loading. Furthermore, with funding provided by MxV, the team has recently completed cyclic crack growth experiments on seven bi-axially loaded rails with internal cracks that had previously been in service. The team is therefore in this research developing the ability to: a) characterize fracture parameters for deploying their advanced fracture mechanics model; b) utilize these parameters to predict crack growth due to cyclic fatigue in rails; and c) utilize the experimental results obtained over the previous decade of testing to validate the computational predictive methodology. Should this model development prove to be useful, it is the team’s ultimate intention to utilize this new advanced technology as a tool for determining how long rails in which flaws have been detected can be safely retained in service.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.utrgv.edu/railwaysafety/research/infrastructure/index.htm
• Supplemental Notes:
  • MxV Rail is a partner for this project.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $82,865.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348340

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Managing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Project Managers:

  Stearns, Amy

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Principal Investigators:

  Allen, David

  Dorsett, Garrett

• Start Date: 20250601
• Expected Completion Date: 20260831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer models; Cyclic tests; Fatigue cracking; Fatigue tests; Fracture mechanics; Fracture tests; Railroad rails
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01960650
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University Transportation Center for Railway Safety
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348340
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 14 2025 1:01PM