Structural Engineering research group Diptojit Datta, Izabela Batista, and Ali Zare Hosseinzadeh, along with Structural Engineering Professor Francesco Lanza di Scalea from UC San Diego, clinched first place in the ASME Noise Control and Acoustics Division (NCAD) Student Paper Competition during the ASME IMECE Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The accolade was granted to them at the Per Bruel Gold Medal Award & NCAD Reception.

Their award-winning paper, titled "Improved Non-Contact Ultrasonic High-Speed Structural Condition Monitoring of Rails Using a Controlled Acoustic Source and Random Wheel Generated Excitations" describes the development of a non-contact ultrasonic system designed to detect internal defects in train rails, which can lead to derailments. This system can operate at high speeds and can be installed on standard trains for continuous rail monitoring. 

Internal defects in rails frequently cause railroad derailments. Many of these defects, such as cracks, are hidden from plain view and can result in broken rails and subsequent accidents if left undetected. Traditional methods of inspection involve ultrasonic techniques where waves are sent into the rail and reflected back to sensors to identify defects. However, these methods often require inspectors to physically mount probes on the rails, leading to time-consuming scheduling, disruptions to traffic, and possible safety concerns.

To address these issues, the paper proposes a novel approach: utilizing trains themselves as monitoring platforms. The technique involves mounting air-coupled ultrasonic transducers on the undercarriage of trains, which detect ultrasonic waves reflecting off internal defects within the rails. This setup allows for continuous monitoring during regular service runs, leveraging multiple passes along the same track for increased inspection frequency.

The signals are processed onboard in real-time to accurately identify whether defects are present or not, usually within a few feet. To improve the system's ability to detect defects, an extra non-contact acoustic source is proposed to address any inconsistencies in the signals generated by the train wheels.

Field tests conducted at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour on a test track have yielded promising results. Once fully developed, this technique could significantly enhance railroad safety, potentially saving lives and reducing inspection costs.