Testing of car body frames
CETEST can carry out railway vehicle body structural testing according to EN 12663 at its test laboratory.
Thanks to our extensive experience in this field we employ our test benches to provide a complete car body structural verification service:
- Here at CETEST, where two fixed benches are at disposal (dimensions up to 40m).
- Abroad, at customer’s facilities, through our two portable test benches, which enable testing at the customer’s premises and avoid car body shipment costs. (Dimensions up to 26m).
We design, manage and perform structural testing according to EN, APTA, PRIIA, ASME, GM RT and other international standards. Our versatile car body frame structural test rigs are designed to apply service and exceptional loads, including longitudinal (compression and traction), vertical and lateral loads, jacking and lifting loads, as well as bogie body loads.
Testing of bogie frames and bolsters
Our test laboratory is accredited for bogie and bolster fatigue testing according to EN 13749, UIC 515-4 and UIC 615-4. These tests are also mandatory to obtain component TSI homologation. The aim of these tests is to simulate operational life in a short period of time.
We have several state-of-the-art test benches, which can be run simultaneously, especially designed to test bogies and bolsters. Our service includes non-destructive testing (magnetic particles inspection) at different test stages to detect crack formation or evaluate crack propagation.
CETEST boasts state-of-the-art equipment and measurement instrumentation. Displacement sensors, load cells, control systems and up-to-date data acquisition software ensure our clients receive the best possible service.
Component testing
We test couplers according to EN16019 or any specific standard required by the client. Tests are performed to obtain design validation and homologation and to characterise the full system.
At CETEST we have the necessary expertise and equipment required to test a broad range of components mounted on a rail vehicle. Functional and fatigue tests are designed according to client specifications.
Some examples of tests carried out in our facilities include:
- Crash characterisation of energy absorption devices
- Functional and fatigue tests on dampers
- Functional and fatigue tests on roll bars
- Primary and secondary suspension characterisation
- Functional and endurance tests on traction rod and spherical joints
- Fatigue tests on bogie frame support
Structural Health monitoring
On-track tests for determining stress levels in different components (bogies, car body frames or specific elements) during normal service according to EN 13749, EN 12663 and EN 17149.
CETEST measures the stress levels and determines the global stress history the piece will experience during its operational life. This history is used to estimate the risk of fatigue failure by means of the cumulative damage method, also known as Miner’s rule. This calculation involves comparing the measured stress levels against an S-N curve (in compliance with standards EN 1999-1-3, EN 1993-1-9 and ERRI B12/RP60).