Experimental Determination of Rail Fracture Properties

There are approximately 1,100 train derailments per year in the U.S., and rail fracture is responsible for 7% of these derailments. Fatigue cracking is a widespread rail fracture issue and a significant safety concern accompanied by critical rail maintenance costs. Despite this fact, a reliable model for predicting fatigue fracture in rails has not yet been deployed within the U.S. In this UTCRS project, the research team has developed an advanced computational algorithm for predicting crack evolution in rails subjected to cyclic fatigue loading. The team's fracture model demonstrates the feasibility and scientific rigor over the traditional phenomenological approaches, while several challenges remain for its successful practical implementation. One of the core challenges is to identify fracture properties in the model when rails are subjected to long-term cyclic fatigue loadings. This project aims to determine the fracture properties of railheads subjected to long-term cyclic fatigue loading. Toward that end, the will use will use its nonlinear cohesive zone (NCZ) fracture model implemented within the finite element computational algorithm and experimental results from the railhead fatigue testing which is currently under development and will be continued in 2025-2026 (as described in our companion UTCRS proposal entitled Experimental Determination of Crack Growth in Rails Subjected to Long-Term Cyclic Fatigue Loading). Successful identification of rail fracture properties (i.e., fundamental material properties) through this project will serve as a core piece for the development of TAMU’s rail fracture modeling framework which will significantly impact the current railway safety and asset management program. This project will be carried out with direct interaction and supervision by MxV Rail personnel.

• 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: $166,145.00
• 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:

  Kim, Yong-Rak

  Allen, David

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

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer models; Fracture mechanics; Fracture properties; Fracture tests; Railroad safety; Railroad tracks
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01960651
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University Transportation Center for Railway Safety
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348340
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 14 2025 1:04PM