HBM nCode > Industries > Rail Transport
Rail Transport Industry
nCode software itself began in the rail industry in the 1980's so it is no surprise many companies in the design and operation of trains continue to derive benefits from the latest generation of nCode products.
Upfront design of train structures and bogies can be optimized for fatigue performance, thus saving weight and reducing energy required and damage to tracks. Operational measurements of strain and acceleration are taken on both train structures and tracks to predict failure and also assess damage. In this way, problems can be identified before they can cause failure and thus preventing serious derailments and accidents.
With nCode software, rail transport engineers can:
- Understand fatigue of railway components like wheels, bogies, axles, etc.
- Understand field loading – how often are bumps seen, how many starts/stops per hour or mile, etc.
- Fatigue analysis of structural members
- Ride quality analysis to understand the impact of ride and track harshness on the riders
- Remote monitoring of tracks
Example: Using nCode for fatigue analysis of the structure of trains
RATP: Fatigue analysis of the structure of trains with GlyphWorks, MGCplus and SoMat eDAQ
In France, the RATP (Urban Public Transportation in Paris area, 6th largest company of Urban Transportation world wide) are using GlyphWorks to process data primarily coming from HBM MGCplus and SoMat eDAQ data acquisition systems.
RATP uses nCode GlyphWorks for:
- Fatigue analysis of the structure of trains (body, bogie, axle) and of the equipment fitted onto railway vehicles, but also of the rails.
- Various analysis like statistics and general time-based and frequency-based analyses on signals of strain, vibration, displacement, temperature, pressure... for problems involving complex mechanical behavior.
According to David Courteille, mechanical division manager at the RATP test and measurement laboratory, one main advantage of GlyphWorks is its ability to work with large file sizes, while being very fast to process. The ease of use and existing database of material fatigue properties are also important advantages.
The MGCplus is used on-board for interactive applications. Its advantages are its compatibility with a large number of sensors and its large number of input channels (over 100 channels on a 19 inch rack.)
For unattended monitoring over several days , the SoMat eDAQ enables the collection of representative loading data to study for instance the fatigue behavior of structural welds. The eDAQs triggering and on-board processing enable it to store only the required data over a long period of measuring.
- The MGCplus is used on-board for interactive applications
- The MGCplus consists of a large number of input channels
Jump to an industry solution of interest:
Example: RATP Fatigue analysis of the structure of trains with GlyphWorks, MGCplus and SoMat eDAQ
