Skip to main content

Author: Livia In-Albon

Optimisation of the heavy overhaul program for the Tram “Cobra”

Customer: Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Development of an evaluation matrix based on the VBZ vehicle structure
  • Determining which measures are to be implemented within the framework of R3
  • Development of a project manual applicable to the project

Our Approach

PROSE develops an evaluation matrix based on the VBZ vehicle structure so that it can be determined which measures should be implemented within the framework of R3. The evaluation matrix contains criteria according to which the measures can be evaluated, including an evaluation. PROSE is developing a project manual applicable to the CR3 project. The focus is on the definition of the different phases including their objectives, duration and contents. It also explains which project participants and stakeholders should be involved, when and how, and how responsibilities should be defined.

Customer benefit

The methodology and tooling provided by PROSE in the first phase enables VBZ to efficiently plan and implement Revision 3 and the life extension measures. The evaluation matrix enables VBZ to make informed decisions about which measures should be implemented as part of R3. This helps to use resources effectively and to keep the trams in the best possible condition. The project manual is the basis for VBZ to implement the Cobra tram overhaul and service life extension project in a structured and effective way, resulting in cost savings and efficiency gains.

     

Specifications for emission-free power supply for construction sites

Customer: SBB AG, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Review and evaluation of the requirements from the specification sheet
  • Discussion and agreement of the commented requirements in a workshop
  • Identification of the requirements that require a risk assessment
  • Creation of a risk assessment
  • Transfer of the requirements into a requirements management system (ReqSuite®)
  • Individual assessment and binding of the requirements

Our Approach

PROSE has drawn up a questionnaire based on these specifications in the sense of “Does a manufacturer have sufficient information? Are the requirements sufficient for the product to be used by SBB”. PROSE checked and evaluated the requirements from the existing specification. The annotated requirements specification was discussed and agreed upon together in a workshop and the requirements requiring a risk assessment were identified. Subsequently, a risk assessment was prepared. The requirements were transferred from the developed basis into a requirements management system (ReqSuite®). The requirements were evaluated individually and given a binding nature in order to evaluate offers received in the subsequent call for tenders.

The requirements specification was then converted into a format that SBB could import into its requirements management system (Polarion®).

Customer benefit

The client received a specification sheet with comments and a supporting questionnaire that allowed him to formulate the requirements more precisely and comprehensibly. Testing, evaluation and identification of requirements that require risk consideration contribute to quality assurance and minimise potential risks in the project. The risk consideration and the binding nature of the requirements enable better preparation for the tender, which improves the quality of the incoming offers. The conversion of the requirements specification into a compatible format for SBB’s requirements management system ensures a smooth integration and use of the requirements by the customer.

 

MBS simulation – trailer load with container car

Customer: Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn AG, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Compilation and preparation of parameters for modelling and simulation
  • Determination of the braking scenario to be considered
  • Creation of a multi-body simulation model (MBS model) of the cogwheel supporting wagon to be investigated as well as of the coupled train configuration
  • Execution and evaluation of the simulation
  • Documentation in a verification report

Our Approach

PROSE is to prove by simulation that derailment safety is given with the new requirements and to develop a set of arguments that can be submitted to the BAV to adapt the driving service regulation.

In a first step, PROSE compiled all the parameters required for modelling and simulation on the basis of customer data. Subsequently, the braking scenario was determined and agreed with the customer. PROSE created the multi-body simulation model (MBS model) of the container car in the required modelling depth. The overall model of the train set included a simplified MBS model of the necessary vehicles for the combinations to be verified in addition to the carrying car to be investigated. PROSE simulated the operationally most critical cases and recorded the results and evaluation of the simulations in a verification report for the attention of the approval authority.

Customer benefit

The customer received a verification report for the approval documentation, which clearly and comprehensibly documents the mathematical proof of safety against derailment of the cogwheel carrier car. On the basis of the proof, the customer was able to obtain the adjustment of the driving service regulation from the BAV.

   

12th IHRUS symposium

You have the opportunity to meet PROSE at the 12th IHRUS (Maintenance of Wheels and Rail) symposium on Thursday, 16 November 2023 at the Verkehrshaus Lucerne.

PROSE will hold an interesting lecture about “Rolling Stock Maintenance of the Day After Tomorrow” together with the futurist Dr. Joël Luc Cachelin on the changes that are taking place in our society and in the world of business, and what impact this could have on the maintenance of rolling stock. The lecture will encourage the audience to consider the future and its opportunities and challenges within maintenance. As PROSE wants to stimulate discussion within the audience, the lecture is placed at the end of the lecture series.

Register here by 31 October 2023: www.ihrus.ch

PROSE inside series: Bogie Repair

Here comes the second use case of the PROSE inside series within our service engineering capabilities: Bogie Repair

Availability, reliability and safety of rail vehicles are impacted by damage on bogies and vehicle structures. A common reason are fatigue cracks after a certain time in service. Fatigue damage requires an understanding of the load spectra acting, as well as an analysis of the existing design by means of FEM and special fatigue assessment tools.

Collisions with obstacles, accidents and corrosion can also lead to damage which requires individual repair solutions. Appropriate repair solutions need to be developed. Effects on the manufacturing implementation are important to be considered. PROSE has long been supporting rail operators in repairing damage on bogies and vehicle structures. Suitable solutions were developed for many vehicles.   

Armin Burth says: “Engineering of repair solutions help to keep availability and reliability on a high level.”

Let us know if you need an FEM analysis of an existing design and are interested in developing repair solutions.

Get inspired by https://prose.one/let-your-fleet-run/  or contact Armin Burth (armin.burth@prose.one) directly.

PROSE inside series: Bogie Trial Dismantling

Over the next few weeks we will be publishing a series of posts on systems engineering, helping customers with maintenance engineering. PROSE-Systems Engineer Armin Burth provides insights into PROSE’s service engineering activities in this series.

Here comes the first use case of the PROSE inside series within our service engineering capabilities: Bogie Trial Dismantling

By far the largest effort in vehicle overhauls is spend for mechanical reconditioning of bogies. Therefore, the definition of the required reconditioning needs a special focus. PROSE identified that the test dismantling is the relevant step. The findings of the actual bogie condition, hence the wear generated by the effective operation, as well as its comparison with the generic reconditioning recommendation of the manufacturer, finally defines the reconditioning requirements in the dimensions of material consumption and production hours.
PROSE has repeatedly provided customers with an independent second opinion and supported operators or workshops preparing cost efficient mechanical reconditioning of bogies.

Armin Burth says: “The discrepancy between the effective wear of bogies in service and the manufacturer’s generic reconditioning  recommendation shows a high effort and material efficiency potential in bogie reconditioning.”

Let us know if you are preparing such overhauls and are interested in assessing optimisation and saving potentials!

Get inspired by: https://prose.one/let-your-fleet-run/and see how PROSE support operators and workshops or contact Armin Burth (armin.burth@prose.one) directly.

PROSE goes back to the roots

The current challenge at SBB Historic is to gradually integrate the organization and fleet management to the world of European standards. This transformation is also to be supported by the introduction of the ZEDAS maintenance software. The historical vehicles have only fragmented operating and maintenance manuals from the manufacturers (some of them no longer exist) and therefore incomplete owner specifications. 

PROSE shall support the contracting entity to develop maintenance plans for the first 14 traction units and 3-4 car fleets. These plans can partly be derived from old regulations and shall be transferred into the new maintenance concept. Furthermore, PROSE shall support the introduction of the maintenance software ZEDAS on the customer side.  

The goal of the project is a uniform and consistent maintenance plan landscape for the first vehicles of the customer to guarantee the safe, standard-compliant and efficient planning and implementation of the  maintenance measures using in-house, club and external services. 

Do you need a reliable contact for maintenance consulting? Contact us: https://prose.one/contact/

 

Are you our next sales representative?

Do you have deep knowledge about your local railway market and a wide-reaching network? 

Are you skilled at recognizing opportunities in the field of mobility? Then you might be the agent we are looking for. 

We are the leading Solution Provider in the field of mobility and we are on the hunt for talented agents to join our international markets*! 

 

What we are looking For: 

  • Local Expertise: Your deep understanding of your local railway market is a key factor. 
  • Influential Network: You have connections with decision-makers in the industry. 
  • Opportunity Finder: Identifying potential for growth in the field of mobility is your specialty. 

If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you! Get in touch with us today by contacting Jochen (jochen.helmlinger@prose.one) 

This is who we are: https://prose.one/about-us/
Let’s explore how we can shape the future of mobility together! 

 

* = If your home market is not yet our home market (no local PROSE office https://prose.one/contact/), you are considered as part of PROSE’s international market. 

 

Spread the word by sharing this news and notifying anyone you think would be an ideal fit!

Are you looking for a suitable contact partner to perform strength analyses?

Do you need a partner to perform strength analyses in the field of railway?

Here are a few reasons why PROSE is the right contact:

  • PROSE’s vast, networked and long-standing experience in finite element analysis (FEA)
  • PROSE’s great expertise from load assumptions to simulation, interpretation, optimisation, specification, test supervision, model validation and troubleshooting
  • PROSE’s independence to support you as a neutral consultant and surveyor
  • PROSE’s flexibility and fast responsiveness

For more information, check out our new reference:

https://prose.one/strength-analysis-fea-simulation/

 

Engineering support for the refurbishment of VT 18.16

It is not always the absolute high-end solutions that PROSE develops!

We are proud that, at the request of our customer SVT Görlitz, we can make a contribution to ensure that the historic VT 18.16 multiple unit train will soon be able to travel again with passengers on special occasions.

The VT 18.16 were high-quality diesel multiple units for the time, equipped with two 900 HP engines and approved for speeds of up to 160 km/h. They were built by the Deutsche Reichsbahn. They were procured by the Deutsche Reichsbahn from VEB Waggonbau Görlitz from 1963 onwards and were intended in particular for international use. Great importance was attached to the equipment and condition, and the catering in the train was much better than in other DR trains.

As part of the modernisation, SVT Görlitz has commissioned us to reconstruct the floor of the vehicle so that, depending on the event and necessity, passenger seating, buffet tables or cinema seating can be installed very quickly and flexibly.

 

Webinar: AI and Machine Learning in Railways

Are you curious about the cutting-edge applications of Artificial Intelligence in the railway industry? Eager to discover how AI can revolutionize the way we address noise reduction and wear in trams? If so, sign up to the Swedtrain webinar tomorrow and hear the PROSE employee Felix speak about “Self-optimizing Rail Head Lubrication” 

He will take you into the fascinating world of AI and its transformative role in the rail vehicle sector. During the session, you’ll have the opportunity to hear about: 

  • Noise Reduction 
  • Wear Prevention 
  • Intelligent Rail Head Conditioning 

Register here: https://www.swedtrain.org/event/ai-and-machine-learning-in-railways/ 

Join us as we embark on a journey into the future of railways powered by Artificial Intelligence. Together, we’ll explore innovative solutions that promise to shape the industry for years to come! 

We can support you in finding the solutions for your project and challenges: reach out to find out more.

 

Presentation by Felix Saur at the 48th Modern Rolling Stock Conference

PROSE-employee Felix Saur will be speaking about “Calculation methods for determining the maximum dynamic torsional moment of wheelsets”. In this presentation, Felix Saur describes the possibilities offered by different calculation methods related to wheelset torsional vibrations to increase system understanding and thus reduce project risks and costs.

Save the date and time to learn more from our expert in this field: Tuesday, 19.9.2023 at 5.00 p.m.

 

info@prose.one

 

Our solutions
© PROSE. All rights reserved
Disclaimer     Privacy Policy