FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 2, 2000
Contact: Yvette Lester
Telephone: 202-493-6024
FRA 18-00

Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene M. Molitoris today announced the award of a $100,000 grant to Cracow University of Technology in Cracow, Poland for research related to metal fatigue in both railroad rails and train wheels.

"This grant clearly illustrates President Clinton and Vice President Gore’s commitment to advanced engineering and technological research," said Administrator Molitoris. "Such research has the potential to increase rail safety here in the U.S. and elsewhere."

Railroad rails and wheels, manufactured from steel, are subjected to severe service conditions which can result in metal fatigue. In addition to increased railroad traffic and train axle loads, which increase the rate of wear and fatigue, railroad components also are subject to residual stresses.

Residual stresses are those that remain permanently inside wheels or rails after removal of all service loads, and are a major contributing factor to the failure of these railroad components. These stresses result from permanent internal deformations in the wheel or rail metal due to their manufacturing process, and the operational movements of trains. Under ordinary conditions, rail and wheel wear or fatigue can in some cases, be a major contributing factor in derailments or other severe incidents.

Since residual stresses are difficult to detect, accurate prediction of cracks in rails and wheels is severely hindered. This research will aid in the development of a reliable method for predicting residual stresses and ultimately, the creation of inspection techniques for this type of metal fatigue. In doing so, it will help the railroad industry develop better materials and improve maintenance practices.

This is the sixth disbursement of funds under the Grant Agreement which was formalized in 1995. FRA sponsorship to date totals $450,000. FRA, through the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center has worked cooperatively with the Cracow University of Technology since 1984. The university’s faculty and staff have considerable expertise in evaluating wear and fatigue of rails and train wheels.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater and transportation ministers from more than 80 countries will participate in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s historic "International Transportation Symposium: Moving to the 21st Century -- Best Practices of Today and Lessons for Tomorrow," the first global
transportation planning meeting of its kind. The three-day conference runs from October 9-12 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., and is open to press.

Briefing Room