CETEST offers a range of other on-track tests for the railway industry.
Noise tests
CETEST is accredited to perform noise tests in accordance with ISO 3095, ISO 3381, TSI 1304/2014, UIC 651, EN 15892, EN 15153 and UIC 644 among others.
CETEST has accumulated considerable worldwide expertise in all measurements related to noise and acoustics in railway projects.
State-of-the-art acoustics equipment (microphones, arrays, acquisition and post-processing software tools) enables CETEST to adapt to measurement requirements as specified in the corresponding international standards and provide advanced research capacities such as interior and exterior noise, warning devices, sound intensity, speech intelligibility.
Vibrations
At CETEST we measure and analyse vibration levels in components and subassemblies for compliance with standards and limits.
- Calculation of frequency response function (FRF) to determine the vibration transmission between different components and suspension stages.
- Order tracking, which is a useful tool in the detection of failures on rotating elements.
- Power spectral density (PSD) can be analysed and compared against reference curves.
Modal Analysis
CETEST offers on-track and laboratory modal analysis testing. We perform Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA). This involves applying a known excitation to the component being studied by means of an instrumented hammer, shakers or through the relaxation method. This analysis is best-suited to elements of reduced dimensions or presenting a low damping ratio.
We also perform operational modal analysis (OMA), where the system is studied in normal operation conditions and it is assumed that the excitation received can be modelled as white noise. This analysis is recommended for elements of large dimensions in which the ambient excitation is constant in the frequency range being studied, such as railway bridges.
Traction, braking and current collection performance
CETEST is accredited to evaluate the traction performance (effort-speed characteristic curve) and traction chain functionality of rail vehicles in different running configurations according to TSI 1302/2014, EN 50215, EN 50163, EN 14067-4 and EN 50388.
Braking performance measurements involve speed, brake pad temperatures, air pressures, acceleration, brake activation and other parameters, in order to fully understand the vehicle’s braking behaviour under each test configuration. CETEST is accredited to perform braking performance evaluations according to international standards and TSI, and to execute wheel slide protection (WSP) tests according to the EN15595:2020 standard.
CETEST is accredited to perform static and dynamic tests according to EN 50317, EN 50367 and TSI. We evaluate the current collection quality through the following tests:
- Evaluation of the contact forces between the pantograph head and the catenary by an instrumented pantograph
- Wire uplift
- Measurement of arching: number and duration of arcs
- Check of the operating system at maximum speed: isolation distance
- Measurement of static force