The report summarizing the results of the LD Benchmark is now available
Vehicle/Track Interaction
The objectives of the Volpe Center vehicle/track interaction program (VTI) are to ensure safe operation of trains and track under a wide range of dynamic and operational conditions. This work supports the activities of the broader Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Research and Development, Track Research Program. The results of this work will be used to develop methods, guidelines and standards for inspecting, maintaining and improving track and rail equipment to meet current and future needs with respect to railroad safety and efficiency. Studies of VTI are especially important because often the dynamic forces that develop at the interaction of trains and track leads to safety issues. In order to accomplish these objectives, among the specific areas investigated under VTI are 1- track geometry and surface conditions (friction, wear, etc) that interact with trains leading to derailment, 2- vehicles, bogies and wheel profile susceptible to derailment, 3- excessive track loads due to vehicle dynamic response and their effect on deterioration of track geometry and track life, 4- ride safety and quality particularly related to special track work and higher curving speeds, 5- influence of unconventional rolling stock, and the general problem of both passenger and freight cars operating on the same track, 6- continuous evaluation of FRA Track Safety Standards and industry standards in light of new conditions, 7- participation in setting specifications for field testing programs involving track and train, 8- developing and utilizing in-house computational techniques for transient track-train problems. These VTI objectives are attained using the most technically advanced analytical, computational and testing tools available to the engineering community, developed within the Volpe Center and also with the collaboration of researchers in universities and industry.
Current Projects:
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