Transportation Technology Portfolios

Transportation-Related Research

Fixing bridges and roadways: While not suited for use as a large-scale substitute for cement because of higher initial cost, Argonne's phosphate-bonded ceramic material Ceramicrete is ideal for applications like bridge and road repair. The material mixes at room temperature, does not require firing to set, is harder and denser than Portland cement, and binds to nearly any solid object, including cement and itself. Ceramicrete's curing process is exothermic, which means it generates heat. Argonne has tested uncured Ceramicrete in ice water and found that it cured in less than two hours. It is lighter than cement and more impervious to water. Samples of the material are available for testing. Contact Terry Maynard (630-252-9771, maynard@anl.gov).

Making travel safer and more efficient: Working with government agencies, universities, and private industry, Argonne researchers bring skills in transportation research, electronics, telecommunications, and high-performance computing to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) programs. By linking drivers, global positioning system satellites, traffic control centers, traffic signals, and"smart vehicles", ITS delivers up-to-the-minute traffic and routing information. ITS could have an impact comparable to the development of the national highway system, making travel safer and more efficient. Less traffic congestion also will mean less fuel burned, lower emissions, and fewer accidents. Argonne's work on this innovative use of technology includes (1) the ADVANCE Project, which tested a dynamic guidance system of"mobile navigators" in Chicago, (2) the GCM (Gary, Chicago, Milwaukee) Corridor program to test ITS, (3) the ITS Simulator Project, which models ITS under real-world conditions, and (4) working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Chicago Fire Department, a study of ways to track cross-country hazardous materials shipments and respond more quickly when accidents occur.

Laser glazing reduces friction, preserves rails: Research at Argonne shows that treating steel rails with a process called laser glazing reduces friction between the rails and train wheels by 40 percent. Railroad companies estimate that reducing rail-wheel friction can save $40 million per year in fuel costs; save another $16 million per year in the cost of rail replacement; and reduce the likelihood of derailments, thereby saving lives. Friction is necessary on the rail tops for traction, but rubbing between the wheels and the sides of the rail causes many problems. The drag forces produced by rubbing increase fuel consumption, wear away the rail, initiate cracking (which can lead to rail fracture and derailment), and can even force the wheel to climb over the rail (another cause of derailments). Such liquid lubricants as oil and grease, currently used to reduce friction, wash away in the rain, introduce environmental problems, and may cause a train to lose traction if they migrate to the top of the rail. The solid-state lubricant that results from laser glazing is durable and environmentally benign, stays where it is applied, and can be applied to rails both during fabrication and in service. For more information, contact Cindy Wesolowski (800-627-2596, partners@anl.gov).

Addressing"what if"concerns--hazmat transportation risk assessment/analysis, modeling, and planning: Argonne has developed a comprehensive assessment approach to estimate the risks associated with transporting hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials. The approach addresses risks unique to radioactive and hazardous waste shipments and those that result from the transportation operations themselves. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) developed a comprehensive approach for estimating the risks from waste shipments of all types within the DOE complex. The approach relies upon the application of a set of risk assessment models, including two developed by Argonne specifically to make the set comprehensive and responsive to public concerns and DOE commitments, as illustrated in many major DOE environmental impact studies. Argonne's RISKIND computer code analyzes radiological consequences and health risks to individuals and collective populations from exposures associated with transporting spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials. The code was designed to address areas of specific concern to individuals or population subgroups and includes numerous user-friendly features to facilitate its use by decision makers and others. A similar code, RISKCHEM, is being developed to estimate accident consequences and health effects from transportation accidents involving hazardous chemicals. Argonne is also a lead laboratory in a recent DOE Transportation Risk Assessment Working Group whose mission is to harmonize DOE complex-wide transportation risk assessment. Contact S.Y. Chen (630-252-7695).

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For More Information

Argonne's Transportation Technology R & D Center Web Site

For more information, contact Argonne's Office of Technology Transfer (800-627-2596, partners@anl.gov).