Development of the track structural capacity rating (TSCR) and example use case for low volume railroad track
Rezende Alves, Vitor
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127519
Description
Title
Development of the track structural capacity rating (TSCR) and example use case for low volume railroad track
Author(s)
Rezende Alves, Vitor
Issue Date
2024-12-12
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Edwards, John Riley
Department of Study
Civil & Environmental Eng
Discipline
Civil Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
Track Quality Index
Track Structure Index
Track Inspection
Track Health
Railway Safety
Language
eng
Abstract
Many indices have been developed to objectively quantify railroad track quality and condition. The two most common index classifications are the track geometry index (TGI), including parameters such as profile, twist, gauge, and alignment and the track structure index (TSI), which accounts for the condition of track structural components including the rail, crosstie, fastening systems, subgrade, and drainage systems. This separation fails to provide a comprehensive assessment of railroad track performance within a single metric. To reduce this gap and present a comprehensive metric, this thesis introduces the Track Structural Capacity Rating (TSCR). The TSCR is a holistic index that quantitatively evaluates track condition by integrating superstructure and substructure parameters according to the desired level of service for train operations. The components included within the TSCR were selected based on the primary causes of derailments in low-speed, low-volume operations that were determined by a review of accident data. The TSCR methodology is adaptable and can be tailored to suit other track use scenarios that support higher speed trains or have higher cumulative tonnage. By combining data on track geometry, component and substructure conditions, the TSCR is visualized through a color-coded map, enabling the identification of regions requiring maintenance for both short- and long-term operational strategies. The TSCR index and methodology for objectively quantifying track capacity for transporting loads can enhance track operational capability by facilitating improved maintenance planning and resource allocation.
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