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Free Webinar Series

The series focuses on topics that align with the CIAMTIS mission of improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure. Designed for research faculty, university students, and transportation industry professionals, the webinars build awareness around a broad array of research and industry practices.  

Under-Tie Support Condition Assessment using Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensor

Presenter: Hai Huang, Associate Professor, Rail Transportation Engineering, Penn State Altoona

September 27 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Abstract: The service life of railroad ties is primarily influenced by the distribution and quality of under-tie support. Non-uniform under-tie support can result in premature tie failure, as railroad ties are typically designed assuming uniform support. This paper aims to propose and evaluate a novel approach for predicting the distribution of support forces beneath railroad ties using strain data obtained from a Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensor (DFOSS). In order to achieve this objective, a high-definition DFOSS was installed along a recycled composite tie to capture detailed strain profiles. The tie was subjected to loading within a ballast box through cyclic loads. An algorithm was developed to retroactively calculate the distribution of under-tie support based on the measured strain profiles. A customized high-order B-spline function based on Euler Beam theory is used to determine the bending moment, shear force, and force distribution beneath the tie. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the actual ballast conditions and the outcomes derived from the proposed method, indicating the ability of the proposed algorithm to accurately predict tie forces and under-tie support distributions.

Bio: Dr. Hai Huang is an Associate Professor and founding faculty member of the US’s first ABET accredited Rail Transportation Engineering degree program at the Pennsylvania State University, Altoona; and graduate faculty at the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. His expertise is in transportation infrastructure (highway, railway, and bridge) health evaluation, monitoring, and prediction. He is known in the area of sensor technology and advanced computing based on physical cyber data fusion. Dr. Huang is the former Chair of the ASCE Rail Transportation Committee (RTC) and has been an active member of many other organizations and international conferences.