Infrastructure
IIJA Funding Cycle
2025CY Research Projects
The following research projects for the 2025 calendar year have been approved internally by the UTCRS Executive Team and the External Advisory Board and are pending USDOT UTC Program Manager final approval:
- Advanced Model for Predicting Buckling in Rails [Exhibit D - I1CY25]
- Computational Model for Predicting Fracture in Rails Subjected to Long-Term Cyclic Fatigue Loading [Exhibit D - I2CY25]
- Temperature-Induced Cyclic Loading Effects on Rail Anchor Slip Force [Exhibit D - I3CY25]
- Modeling Special Cases of Longitudinal Resistance in Continuously Welded Rail (CWR) [Exhibit D - I4CY25]
- Evaluating Ballast Performance with Freeze/Thaw Cycles [Exhibit D - I5CY25]
- Experimental Determination of Crack Growth in Rails Subjected to Long-Term Cyclic Fatigue Loading [Exhibit D - I6CY25]
- Rapid Detection of Track Changes from In-Motion Data Acquisition Records: Lab Setup and Field Implementation - Year 3 [Exhibit D - I7CY25]
- Experimental Determination of Rail Fracture Properties [Exhibit D - I8CY25]
2024CY Research Projects
The following research projects have been approved for the 2024 calendar year:
- Advanced Model for Predicting Buckling in Rails [Exhibit D - I1CY24]
- Computational Model for Predicting Fracture in Rails Subjected to Long-Term Cyclic Fatigue
Loading [Exhibit D - I2CY24] - Continuously Welded Rail Longitudinal Resistance Modeling [Exhibit D - I3CY24]
- Experimental Determination of Crack Growth in Rails Subjected to Long-Term Cyclic
Fatigue Loading [Exhibit D - I4CY24] - Experimental Determination of Track Friction Coefficients [Exhibit D - I5CY24]
- Temperature Effects on Rail Anchor Slip Force [Exhibit D - I6CY24]
- Rapid Detection of Track Changes from Onboard Data Acquisition Records: Year 2 [Exhibit D - I7CY24]
2023CY Research Projects
The following research projects have been approved for the 2023 calendar year:
- Enhancing the TAMU Model for Predicting Buckling in Rails [Exhibit D - I1CY23] [Final Report - I1CY23]
- Development of a Computational Model for Predicting Fracture in Rails Subjected to Long-Term Cyclic Fatigue Loading [Exhibit D - I2CY23] [Final Report - I2CY23]
- Autonomous Rail Surface Defect Detection [Exhibit D - I3CY23] [Final Report - I3CY23]
- Intelligent Aerial Drones for Traversability Assessment of Railroad Tracks [Exhibit D - I4CY23] [Final Report I4CY23]
- Rapid Detection of Track Changes from Onboard Data Acquisition Records [Exhibit D - I5CY23] [Final Report - I5CY23]
- Rail Anchor Slip Force Testing. [Exhibit D - I6CY23] [Final Report - I6CY23]
MAP-21 Funding Cycle
2015CY Research Projects
The following research projects have been approved for the 2015 calendar year:
- Estimating Bridge Span Deflections Using Data Streams from Rolling Stock [Exhibit D - I1CY15]
- Bumps in High Speed Rails: What is Tolerable? [Exhibit D - I2CY15]
- Dynamic Live Load Effects of Railroads on Retaining Walls and Temporary Shoring [Exhibit D - I3CY15]
- Strength and Fracture Toughness of Railroad Eyebar Members [Exhibit D - I4CY15]
- A Mechanistic Investigation of Concrete Tie Degradation in the Rail Seat [Exhibit D - I5CY15]
- Fatigue and Service Analysis of Railroad Eyebar Members [Exhibit D - I6CY15]
- Method for Predicting Thermal Buckling in Rails [Exhibit D - I7CY15]
- Multi-Scale Fatigue Damage Life Assessment of Railroad Wheels [Exhibit D - I8CY15]
2014CY Research Projects
The following research projects have been approved for the 2014 calendar year:
- Rail Neutral Temperature In-Situ Evaluation [Exhibit D - I1CY15]
- Ultrasonic Tomography for Infrastructure Inspection [Exhibit D - I2CY15]
- High Speed Train Geotechnics [Exhibit D - I3CY15]
- Optimizing Performance of Railroad Rail through Artificial Wear [Exhibit D - I4CY15]
- Vehicle-Bourne Autonomous Railroad Bridge Impairment Detection Systems [Exhibit D - I5CY15]