Railway Vehicle Assemblies Testing

What Is Railway Assemblies Testing?

Railway assemblies testing is vital for ensuring that carriage bodies and substructures conform to international standards and are an important part of our railway testing. Assemblies testing involves evaluating the structural aspects and manufacturing techniques for single and trams, as well as middle carriages.

What Railway Assemblies Areas Do We Test?

At Applus+ Laboratories, we test a range of different railway assembly areas, from varying carriage structures and to production techniques. Here’s an overview of the areas that we test on:

What Carriage Types Do We Test?

We offer structural integrity testing for a wide variety of carriage types, ensuring safety, durability, and compliance with industry standards.

• Streetcar Carriages
  Our testing processes for streetcar carriages focus on their resilience in urban environments, including stress tests related to frequent stops, starts, and tight cornering.
• Head-End Carriages
  We assess the strength and durability of head-end carriages, which are critical for the safety and control of trains, ensuring they meet the necessary safety standards.
• Centre Carriages
  Centre carriages are subjected to rigorous testing to evaluate their ability to withstand dynamic forces and ensure passenger safety during transit.
• Lock Frames
  Lock frames, essential for the secure connection between carriages, are tested for their reliability and durability under various operational stresses.

Simulation and Calculation Verification

We conduct full simulation and calculation verification using advanced computational tools to replicate how carriage body structures will react under stress tests, load distribution, and material behavior. These tests are crucial for ensuring that the final product meets safety and performance standards.

Design Validation for Vehicle Development

Design validation plays a critical role in vehicle development, making sure that all design specifications for carriages and lock frames translate into robust and operational vehicles. Design validation involves rigorous testing of prototypes and pre-production models under real world conditions.

What Railway Assemblies Testing Options Do We Offer?

We perform a number of tests on railway assembly bodies to ensure that they conform against several international standards. These tests include:

• Static Tests Against EN 12663-1
  We conduct static tests against the standard EN 12663-1 ensuring that railway carriage bodies meet the necessary safety and performance criteria for the structural integrity of the car body under real-life static load conditions.
• Structural Load Testing
  We apply structural load testing utilising servo-hydraulics and defined weights to evaluate whether railway assemblies are capable of maintaining their structure under various loading scenarios.
• Longitudinal Pressure Testing
  We provide longitudinal pressure testing by applying force either with servo-hydraulics or high-pressure hydraulic elements (capable of forces up to 3,000 kN). This test ensures that carriages are able to withstand significant longitudinal pressures in the event of collisions or sudden stops. These are tests conducted against the standard EN 12663-1.
• Dynamic Testing
  Our dynamic loading testing multi-servo-hydraulic load components in order to similar the real-world dynamic forces that a railway carriage would undergo. Our testing involves testing for dynamic stresses such as vibrations, impacts, and other forces occurring in high-speed travel.

Why Choose Applus+ Laboratories for Railway Assemblies Testing?

Choosing Applus+ Laboratories for your railway assemblies testing aligns you with a distinguished leader in the railway testing industry. Our services are geared towards ensuring carriage bodies are structurally sound and in accordance with global regulations and standards.

At Applus+ Laboratories, we offer railway testing services combined with exceptional client service, making us ideal for your railway assembly needs. We support the full spectrum of your project, from development to market entry across multiple countries.

Choose Applus+ Laboratories as your trusted advisor and partner in providing high-quality services and expert guidance is designed to streamline your path to market while navigating the complexities of railway product certification with confidence and precision.