| Abstract | 2019 started off strong with its annual conference drawing nearly 60 persons for two and a half days of presentations and discussion in Vancouver. The most exciting outcome was that two railroads announced field programs involving novel measurement technologies and unique test conditions. Although these programs have not yet come to fruition (due to COVID 19 restrictions and resource shortages) one of the railroads (Norfolk Southern Railway) has re-engaged and the project could start by mid-year 2022.
Plans were made for the 2020 workshop to be held in Istanbul Turkey in April of that year. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the workshop’s cancellation. In lieu of the workshop, many presentations were provided remotely using an internet based platform. Between April 2020 and March 2021, 16 technical presentations and 2 workshops were given in 12 separate sessions. Attendance varied between 31 and150 persons for any session, averaging 70 participants.
In 2021, an in-person workshop was not feasible so the ICRI webinars continued to serve the purpose of maintaining knowledge transfer and sharing between the ICRI members. Between April 2021 and March2022, 11 technical presentations were given in 9 separate sessions. Attendance varied between 41 and101 persons for any session, averaging 67 participants.
Planning for three in-person conferences/workshops is underway for 2022: 1) a three day in-person work shop is planned in Ottawa for April 26-28, 2022; 2) a half day workshop will be held during the WRI Transit Principles Course at the 27th annual Wheel Rail Interaction Conference in Vancouver on June21st, 2022; 3) a full day workshop will be held during the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems in Melbourne Australia on September 4th, 2022.
Coordination efforts were increased considerably in the second half of 2021 and into 2022; team meetings were organized for and progress has been made by each of the six research topics, with several new sub-topics emerging.
The Friction Modeling Studies are nearing completion after benefiting from supplemental Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding to ICRI partners and some results were presented at a July 2020 ICRI webinar. A follow-up project proposal has been submitted to FRA and two additional efforts have been added to this research topic; Friction Library and Tribometer Business Continuity Plan. The first involves the collection of existing and new friction related data into a centralized database to support modeling efforts under a range of conditions, while the latter seeks to continue the development and technical support of the new International Engineering (IE) Tribometer whose survival is currently uncertain following the death of its inventor.
The Quantify Surface Damage team continues to populate the matrix with rail samples sent by the community and a final report is expected by the beginning of 2023. The Wear Mapping and VTI Economics projects are nearing completion, although ongoing improvements and publications are expected. The Damage Modeling project made only incremental progress within the ICRI, though partners have continued to develop models within their own organizations. Profile Scoring Parameter Working Groups are being developed for the new initiative to develop a methodology for rail profile scoring.
Building off the rail safety work and risk analysis that was completed in 2020-2021, a research frame work for modelling broken rail derailments was developed. This is the largest ICRI project ever and involves several different modules that may eventually be integrated into a single model. Teams of interested individuals have been tasked to develop each of the seven distinct modules; identify the module inputs, algorithms and outputs, the current methods/understanding, and research gaps or new technology needs. A report and project proposal for the next step is expected in the beginning of 2023.
Membership in the ICRI continues to rise, with this most recent year being very successful from that perspective. The ICRI now numbers over 330 individuals from 160 organizations in 29 countries, a gain of over 130 persons, 57 organizations and 10 countries in the last three years period. |
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