RailTEC Publications

2025

• Lin, C-Y., X. Liu and C.P.L. Barkan. 2025. Probabilistic modelling of optimal placement strategies of hazardous materials railcars in freight trains. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 213 (2025): 107957. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2025.107957.

2024

• Germoglio, I., A. de O. Lima, J.R. Edwards and M.S. Dersch. 2024. Development of track component health indices using image-based railway track inspection data. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. doi:10.1177/09544097231224825.
• Lee, J., A. de O. Lima, M.S. Dersch and J.R. Edwards. 2024. Quantification of the effects of material properties and support conditions on under tie pad behavior. Construction and Building Materials. 414 (Feb. 2024): 135024. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.135024.

2023

• Blumenfeld, M., C-Y. Lin, A. Jack, M.T. Ubdurrahman, T. S. Gerstein and C.P.L. Barkan. 2023. Towards measuring national railways’ safety through a benchmarking framework of transparency and published data. Safety Science. 164 (2023): 106188. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2023.106188.
• Dersch, M.S., M.J. Potvin, A. de O. Lima and J.R. Edwards. 2023. Effect of critical factors influencing longitudinal track resistance leveraging field experimentation. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. doi:10.1177/03611981231187641.
• Dersch, M.S., M.J. Potvin, J.R. Edwards and A. de O. Lima. 2023. Effect of critical factors influencing longitudinal track resistance leveraging laboratory track panel pull test experimentation. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981231155420.
• Harrington, R.M., A. de O. Lima, R. Fox-Ivey, T. Nguyen, J. Laurent, M.S. Dersch and J.R. Edwards. 2023. Use of deep convolutional neural networks and change detection technology for railway track inspections. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 237 (2): 137-145. doi:10.1177/09544097221093486.
• Huang, C-L., Y. Wu, X. He, M.S. Dersch, X. Zhu and J.S. Popovics. 2023. A review of non-destructive evaluation techniques for axial thermal stress and neutral temperature measurement in rail: Physical phenomena and performance assessment. NDT and E International. 137 (July) doi:https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.ndteint.2023.102832.
• Khachaturian, C.J., M.S. Dersch, J.R. Edwards and M. Trizotto Silva. 2023. Quantification of longitudinal fastener stiffness and the effect on fastening system loading demand. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 237 (3): 347-355. doi:10.1177/09544097221112576.
• Khachaturian, C.J., M.S. Dersch, S. Liu and J.R. Edwards. 2023. Evaluating glass fiber reinforced composite sleepers to mitigate elastic fastening system spike fatigue failure: A finite element study. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 237 (6): 751-762. doi:10.1177/09544097221136915.
• Lee, J., A. de O. Lima, M.S. Dersch and J.R. Edwards. 2023. Optimisation of turnout frog profile geometry using revenue service wheel profiles. Vehicle System Dynamics. doi:10.1080/00423114.2023.2218948.
• Lee, J., M.S. Dersch, A. de O. Lima and J.R. Edwards. 2023. Probabilistic review of wheel profiles based on hollow tread in the U.S. heavy haul rail network. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 237 (4): 508-516. doi:10.1177/09544097221122030.
• Lin, C-Y., M. Blumenfeld, T. S. Gerstein, C.P.L. Barkan, A. Jack and U. Abdurrahman. 2023. International benchmarking of railroad safety data systems and performance – a cross-continental case study. Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management. 26 (2023): 100384. doi:10.1016/j.jrtpm.2023.100384.
• Mueller, D., A. de O. Lima, J.R. Edwards and M.S. Dersch. 2023. Development of a real-time wheel load quantification system for the transit environment. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. doi:10.1177/03611981231156935.
• Myskowski, B.E., A. de O. Lima and J.R. Edwards. 2023. Under tie (sleeper) pads – A state of the art review. Construction and Building Materials. 383 (Jun 2023): 131239. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131239.
• Potvin, M.J., M.S. Dersch, J.R. Edwards and A. de O. Lima. 2023. Review of critical factors influencing longitudinal track resistance. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981231155170.

2022

• Bastos, J.C., M.S. Dersch and J.R. Edwards. 2022. Degradation mechanisms of concrete due to water flow in cracks of prestressed railroad sleepers under cyclic loading. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 34 (4) doi:10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0004144.
• Dersch, M.S., C.D. Stuart, A. de O. Lima and J.R. Edwards. 2022. Made Elastic. Railway Track and Structures. RT&S Track Buyers Guide 2022: pp. 10-15.
• Lin, C-Y., M.R. Saat and C.P.L. Barkan. 2022. Semi-quantitative risk assessment of adjacent track accidents on shared-use rail corridors. Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management. 24 (December 2022): 100355. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrtpm.2022.100355.
• Lin, C-Y., X. Liu, J. Kim and C.P.L. Barkan. 2022. General model of the effect of hazardous materials car placement in trains and their probability of derailment. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2676 (10): 28-37. doi:10.1177/03611981221088586.

2021

• Dersch, M.S., C.J. Khachaturian and J.R. Edwards. 2021. Methods to mitigate railway premium fastening system spike fatigue failures using finite element analysis. Engineering Failure Analysis. 121 (March 2021): 105160. doi:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.105160.
• Dersch, M.S., C.J. Khachaturian and J.R. Edwards. 2021. Methods to mitigate railway premium fastening system spike fatigue failures using finite element analysis. Engineering Failure Analysis. 121: 105160. doi:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.105160.
• Dersch, M.S., M. Trizotto Silva, J.R. Edwards and A. de O. Lima. 2021. Quantification of vertical, lateral, and longitudinal fastener demand in broken spike track: Inputs to mechanistic-empirical design. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 1-13. doi:10.1177/09544097211030736.
• Khachaturian, C.J., M.S. Dersch, J.R. Edwards and M. Trizotto Silva. 2021. Effect of Longitudinal Fastener Stiffness and Fastening System Loading. In: Proceedings of the 2021 Joint Rail Conferece. Virtual, April 20-21, 2021.
• Lima, A. de O., J.R. Edwards, L.W. Chavez Quiroz, Y. Qian and M.S. Dersch. 2021. Load and response quantification of direct fixation fastening systems for heavy rail transit infrastructure. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 235 (9): 1110-1121. doi:10.1177/0954409720987036.

2020

• Bastos, J.C., M.S. Dersch and J.R. Edwards. 2020. Statistical prediction of center negative bending capacity of pretensioned concrete crossties. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems. doi:10.1177/0954409719854569.
• Dersch, M.S., J.R. Edwards and C.D. Stuart. 2020. Timber Crosstie Spike Fastener Failure Investigation: Field Evaluation of an Alternative Fastener. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC.
• Dersch, M.S., M. Trizotto Silva, J.R. Edwards, A. de O. Lima and T.A. Roadcap. 2020. Analytical method to estimate railroad spike fastener stress. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2674 (11): 379-389. doi:10.1177/0361198120949259.
• Dersch, M.S., M. Trizotto Silva, J.R. Edwards, A. de O. Lima and T.A. Roadcap. 2020. Analytical method to estimate railroad spike fastener stress. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. doi:10.1177/0361198120949259.
• Diaz de Rivera, A., C.T. Dick and L.E. Evans. 2020. Improving railway operational efficiency with moving blocks, train fleeting and alternative single-track configurations. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2674 (2): 146-157. doi:10.1177/0361198120905842.
• Diaz de Rivera, A., C.T. Dick and L.E. Evans. 2020. Potential for moving blocks and train fleets to enable faster train meets on single-track rail corridors. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems. 146 (8): 04020077. doi:10.1061/JTEPBS.0000403.
• Edwards, J.R., M.S. Dersch and A. de O. Lima. 2020. Resilient Concrete Crosstie and Fastening System Designs for Light, Heavy, and Commuter Rail Transit. Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC, pp. 124, Report No. 0158.
• Lin, C-Y., B.C. Sooter and C.P.L. Barkan. 2020. Effect of Automatic Train Protection Technologies on Railroad Accident Prevention. In: Proceedings of the Transportation Research Board 99th Annual Conference. Washington, D.C., January, 2020.
• Lin, C-Y., M.R. Saat and C.P.L. Barkan. 2020. A Risk Management Tool to Evaluate Adjacent Track Accidents on Shared-Use Rail Corridors. In: Proceedings of the 2020 AREMA Annual Virtual Conference.
• Wang, B.Z., C.P.L. Barkan and M.R. Saat. 2020. Quantitative analysis of changes in freight train derailment causes and rates. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems. 146 (11) doi:10.1061/JTEPBS.0000453.

2019

• Branson, J.M., M.S. Dersch, A. de O. Lima, J.R. Edwards and J-Y. Kim. 2019. Analysis of geometric ballast plate for laboratory testing of resilient track components. Transportation Geotechnics. 20 (100240).
• Branson, J.M., M.S. Dersch, A. de O. Lima, J.R. Edwards and J.C. Bastos. 2019. Identification of the under-tie pad material characteristics for stress state reduction. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. doi:10.1177/0954409719890156.
• Canga Ruiz, A.E., Y. Qian, J.R. Edwards and M.S. Dersch. 2019. Analysis of the temperature effect on concrete crosstie flexural behavior. Construction and Building Materials. 196: 362-374. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.11.065.
• Canga Ruiz, A.E., Y. Qian, J.R. Edwards and M.S. Dersch. 2019. Probabilistic framework for the assessment of the flexural design of concrete sleepers. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. doi:10.1177/0954409719854569.
• Dersch, M.S., T.A. Roadcap and J.R. Edwards. 2019. Spiked! Broken Spikes Continue to Cause Problems on the Rails, and the Focus is on the Fastening Systems. Railway Track and Structures. 115 (7): July 2019, pp. 20-24.
• Dersch, M.S., T.A. Roadcap, J.R. Edwards, Y. Qian, J-Y. Kim and M. Trizotto Silva. 2019. Investigation into the effect of lateral and longitudinal loads on railroad spike stress magnitude and location using finite element analysis. Engineering Failure Analysis. 104 (2019): 388-398. doi:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2019.06.009.
• Dick, C.T., D. Mussanov and N. Nishio. 2019. Transitioning from flexible to structured heavy haul operations to expand the capacity of single-track shared corridors in North America. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 233 (6): 629-639. doi:10.1177/0954409718804427.
• Dick, C.T., D. Mussanov, L.E. Evans, G.S. Roscoe and T-Y. Chang. 2019. Relative capacity and performance of fixed and moving block control systems on North American freight railway lines and shared passenger corridors. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2673 (5): 250-261. doi:10.1177/0361198119841852.
• Dick, C.T., I.A. Atanassov, F.B. Kippen III and D. Mussanov. 2019. Relative train length and the infrastructure required to mitigate delays from operating combinations of normal and over-length freight trains on single-track railway lines in North America. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 233 (7): 731-742. doi:10.1177/0954409718809204.
• Dick, C.T., P. Lautala and B.W. Schlake. 2019. STEM K-12 outreach as the root of transportation education: experiences from the railway engineering field. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2673 (12): 558-569. doi:10.1177/0361198119841564.
• Edwards, J.R., M.S. Dersch and A. de O. Lima. 2019. Concrete Crossties: A New Paradigm for Design. Railway Track and Structures. February 25, 2019.
• Edwards, J.R., Y. Liang, J.C. Bastos and M.S. Dersch. 2019. Development of a parametric model for the prediction of concrete railway crosstie service bending moments. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. doi:10.1177/0954409719888068.
• Lin, C-Y. and C.P.L. Barkan. 2019. Modeling the Probability of Train Presence on Adjacent Tracks in Railway Vehicle Intrusion Scenario. In: Proceedings of the 2019 World Congress of Railway Research. Tokyo, Japan, October, 2019.
• Lin, C-Y. and C.P.L. Barkan. 2019. Train Presence Probability Modelling in the Risk Assessment of Adjacent Track Accidents on Multiple Track Territory. In: Proceedings of the 2019 International Heavy Haul Association Conference. Narvik, Norway, June, 2019.
• Lin, C-Y., M.R. Saat and C.P.L. Barkan. 2019. Quantitative causal analysis of mainline passenger train accidents in the United States. Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. doi:10.1177/0954409719876128.