Evaluation of technical vs economic decisions in rail grinding
Rail is a significant capital asset for railway companies. It contributes more than half of the capital assets of railway infrastructure. Recent rail inspection data using Ultrasonic rail testing has shown increasing number of rail defects, failures and causing disruptions to rail services. This cost can be further increased when the track quality is poor. In recent years, railroads have been purchasing over 500,000 tons of rails per year at an estimated total cost of US $1.25 billion for replacement of worn out and degraded rails. Rail grinding is considered as viable means in reducing the impacts of rail defects and failures. Rail grinding can result in improved curving performance (wheel/rail interaction) and prevents crack initiation and propagation of surface cracks due to RCF. This paper focuses on analysis of rail degradation process and development of mathematical model considering technical and economic decisions in rail grinding to rail infrastructure owners.
Failure of a low rail system in a curved railway track subject to long term rail-wheel interactive wear
This paper investigated the failure of a rail that had been in service for approximately 25 years in 
Tasmania, Australia. A segment of the rail was taken from the site on a curved railway track. From its 
service history, it was found that the maximum train speed over that period was around 35km/h. 
However, approximately one third of the movements were at a speed less than 20km/h due to the fact 
that the rail was located on the steepest section of the line. Visual examination on the rail sample 
revealed that the rail had experienced mixed traffic conditions during the service history. 
Mushrooming shaped plastic flow occurred in the railhead. The chemical composition of the rail was 
analysed using the optical emission spectroscopy method. Metallurgical observation on the rail sample 
and a hardness test were conducted, aiming to investigate the root cause of the failure. The aim of this 
study was to conduct the failure analysis of the rail and to provide knowledge regarding the selection 
of a sustainable type of rail for this application.
Ocean thermal energy conversion: The promise of a clean future
Due to the world's heavy dependence on fossil fuels for electricity, pollution and global warming is on the rise. However, numerous countries are still relying on diesel generators as their main source of energy. There is a lack of practical alternative energy source that can meet the global energy demand without posing any threat to the natural environment. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a concept that has the potential to address this growing issue. It is basically a mechanism that exploits the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep ocean water, to produce electricity. Although OTEC has a low energy density, the thermal energy in the ocean is vastly abundant. OTEC development has been dormant for a long time since it was first proposed in 1881. However, it has now regained recognition worldwide as a realistic solution to our world energy issue. Instead of having a great potential for power generation, it also carries the ability to produce high value products from the large volume of Deep Sea Water (DSW) that can be released as byproducts of OTEC plant operation. These products can hold a very profitable place in industries such as pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and mineral water production. Further research on ocean current and DSW properties can someday lead to the commercial used of OTEC. This paper is a review of the basic concept, present status and future prospects of OTEC around the world.