A REVIEW OF MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES, REQUIREMENTS, AND AVAILABLE DATA ON THE DYNAMIC COMPLIANCE OF RAILROAD TRACK

The need for increasing train speeds and operating safety while, reducing track maintenance is responsible for much of the current research on track structues, vehicle dynamics, and vehicle/track interaction. This report covers Phase I of a 3-phase program to design and fabricate equipment for measuring track dynamic characteristics. It is generally recognized that the available data and measurement techniques for obtaining this type of data for U.S. track and inadequate. This Phase I report includes a review of previous measurement techniques, a compilation of available data on track dynamic characteristics, an evaluation of data requirements, and the development of concepts for measuring track dynamic compolance.