Design and manufacture of measurement axles

• Conduct finite element analysis
• Develop a “measuring axle” sensor to establish wheel-rail contact forces
• Modify the original axle in order to measure the lateral and vertical forces exerted on the track
• Install strain gauges on the wheel centre to obtain the basic signals typical of wheel-rail contact forces and, by means of processing, of the lateral and vertical forces
• Study into mechanical adjustment of devices fitted at each end of the axle (e.g. return current, coder, etc.)

• Digital calculator for data acquisition and processing
• Calibration bench connected to reference gauges with the following characteristics:
  – Vertical axis: Forces applied up to 200 kN
  – Lateral axis: Up to 100 kN
  – Wheel diameter: 450 to 1,250 mm for a wide range of track gauges
• Multi-channel digital telemetry system for signal transmission

NF F00-702 – Dynamic interaction between vehicles and tracks – Force measurement method

NF EN 14363