Abstract: Described herein is a load sensor for a railcar that includes one or more strain gauges and one or more temperature sensors. The load sensor has a size and configuration that allows the load sensor to be embedded in a bearing adapter under the polymer steering pad of the railcar.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of preparing glass structures having tunable material properties. By varying process conditions, physical, thermal, optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of the glass particles can be altered in a predictable manner. By varying porosity, density, and pore structures, for example, a wide range of physical, thermal, optical, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of micron and nanometer sized glass particles can be achieved and/or modified.