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Research

Rail Safety Improvement Through Enhanced Understanding of Ballast and Subgrade InteractionsFederal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Continuous Railroad Track Health Monitoring Using Distributed Fiber Optic SensorMxV Rail University Program
Automated Bridge Inspection and Load Rating Using Low-Cost Sensor NetworksU.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
Under-Tie Support Condition Assessment using Distributed Fiber Optic Strain SensorResearch project
Recycled Plastics Railroad Ties Fatigue PerformanceResearch project
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Rail Safety Improvement Through Enhanced Understanding of Ballast and Subgrade Interactions

Sponsor: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)Read the paperFRA report

Overview

Project Description

This FRA-sponsored project examined ballast behavior under different tamping conditions using SmartRock wireless sensors embedded beneath railway ties. Field tests on Norfolk Southern lines between 2021 and 2023 captured real-time data on ballast movement, acceleration, stress, and energy transfer during tamping. The results showed that clean ballast responded more effectively to tamping, while fouled ballast required adjusted strategies due to greater resistance and less uniform compaction. The project highlights the value of sensor-based, data-driven maintenance for improving tamping effectiveness, track stability, and rail safety.