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Tag: Validation & Verification

Validation – Verification – Our solutions

Inspection and assessment of carbody, cracks and corrosion

Project tasks

  • Project management
  • Planning of the project
  • Inspections
  • Establishing an assessment report

Our Approach

As part of the project implementation, PROSE AB carried out thorough inspections on all 9 X60A vehicles to ensure their structural integrity. This was carried out with visual inspections of the vehicle frames and bodies to identify visible damage. This meticulous approach made it possible to precisely document every potential weak point, which allowed targeted planning for necessary repair work. Through the comprehensive inspection and documentation, PROSE AB ensured that all vehicles’ safety and quality requirements were met, improving their operational safety and longevity.

Customer benefit

​By providing nine detailed inspection reports, one for each vehicle, the customer benefited from a comprehensive and accurate overview of the condition of their vehicle fleet. The individual reports provide an accurate assessment of each vehicle’s condition and maintenance needs. This structured and detailed documentation enables the customer to make informed decisions about necessary maintenance and repair measures, helps to optimise operational safety and supports effective resource planning. The reporting thus increases transparency and facilitates strategic planning for the long-term maintenance of the vehicle fleet.

 

     

Fire Safety Assessment and Consulting

Project tasks

  • Consultancy
  • Development and creation of fire protection concepts
  • Development and creation of evacuation concepts
  • Analyses of fire protection requirements
  • Compilation of required fire protection test reports
  • Communication with authorities, manufacturers and testing laboratories
  • Integration of fire safety systems
  • Preparation of approval documents relevant to fire protection

Our Approach

PROSE analyses the given situation and develops solutions that meet the applicable fire protection requirements. To this end, PROSE advises the customer and identifies various solutions in order to find an efficient way of achieving the required fire protection for railway vehicles in accordance with EN 45545. Our experts calculate the thermal load of the vehicle during the design and propose measures for its reduction.

Customer benefit

The customer benefits from our many years of experience in the field of fire protection for all types of rail vehicles in accordance with EN 45545, including not only advice but also the creation of concepts, the preparation of the necessary fire protection certificates, contact with manufacturers of fire protection-compliant components and communication with approval authorities. The aim is to place fire protection suitable vehicles into service.

Vehicle procurement – Manufacturing Supervision, Quality Control and Factory Tests

Customer: various customer

Project tasks

  • Acceptance of the welded car bodies / bogie frames
  • Paint inspection and acceptance
  • Intermediate acceptance of main electrical components
  • Intermediate acceptance of interior fittings
  • Factory acceptance/customer acceptance

Our Approach

By regular participation in the vehicle acceptance tests and constant coordination with the team of the vehicle manufacturer, PROSE checks the quality of the production. The customer is permanently kept up to date by the acceptance team regarding the progress of the production as well as possible complications or deadline postponements. He immediately receives the results of the production controls and acceptances and can follow up changes, modifications etc.

The dates for the acceptance of components, intermediate assembly stands and vehicles ready for delivery follow the production plan but are also handled operationally and flexibly in order to be able to react to specific occasions. In this way, control of the construction process is always ensured and there is the possibility of intervention in the event of difficulties such as quality slumps, scheduling, supply, or capacity problems.

Customer benefit

With manufacturing supervision, the manufacturer’s quality assurance process is checked and monitored in addition to the product quality, because every vehicle has gone through this process before it is presented for factory acceptance. Continuous construction supervision ensures consistent quality at a high level.

      

Re-design studies of the PRIMA BB27000 and BB37000 locomotives

Customer: AKIEM, France

Project tasks

  • Pre-studies (feasibility study and budget estimate on different topics)
  • Electrical and mechanical integration studies
  • Replacement of the headlights with LED headlights
  • Integration of a socket with USB ports in the driver’s cab.
  • Modification of existing circuit diagrams
  • Design of integration plans and schemes
  • Creation of an operating and an assembly manual
  • Budget estimate to modify the entire PRIMA fleet of AKIEM
  • Supply of prototype parts and support for its integration
  • Carrying out the procedure and the test report
  • Updating of documents after the integration of the prototype and the realisation of tests, if necessary
  • Provision of the purchase specifications of the parts for the series
  • Impact assessment of the amendment

Our Approach

To carry out all pre-studies and studies, PROSE has set up an internal organisation:

  • Project Manager / Coordinator
  • Electrical Engineers
  • Mechanical Design Engineer
  • Expert in change impact analysis

PROSE worked in collaboration with AKIEM to provide the best possible solution in the shortest possible lead time.

Customer benefit

Thanks to our expertise in the field of rolling stock and our engineering department with its various competence centres, PROSE was able to offer our best services to propose modifications and carry out innovations on the locomotives.

 

Strength analysis (FEA simulation)

Customer: various customers

Project tasks

Development of verification concepts and load assumptions as well as performance of calculations and simulations for:

  • Car bodies according to e.g. EN 12663
  • Bogies and wheelsets according to e.g. EN 13749, EN 13261
  • Streetcars and metros according to VDV 152
  • Attachment parts according to EN 61373
  • General load assumptions from calculations, measurements and simulations for e.g. special vehicles

Static, fatigue and time strength assessment:

  • Base material and weld seams according to FKM Guideline
  • Fatigue of steel according to Eurocode 3 DIN EN 1993-1-9 and BS 7608
  • Weld seam evaluation according to DVS 1612 / DVS 1608 and IIW recommendation
  • Screw connection according to DIN 25202:1-6, VDI 2230 and Eurocode 3 DIN EN 1993-1-8
  • Cylindrical helical spring according to EN 13906

Further analyses:

  • Nonlinear and crash analyses
  • Heat transfer analyses
  • Topological optimizations
  • Eigenvalue analyses
  • Stability analyses
  • Damage analyses and repair solutions

Our Approach

Depending on the customer’s specifications, PROSE carries out strength analyses in parallel with the design in its own development team or works directly with the customer’s team. PROSE covers the entire range of the analysis from the development of the load assumptions to the modelling to the efficient execution of the calculations and simulations as well as the evaluation of the results. Based on the strength analyses, PROSE can prepare test specifications for structural tests, accompany tests and, if required, validate the strength model with the evaluation. PROSE engineers have interdisciplinary know-how also in non-railway specific problems. Furthermore, PROSE also takes over the coaching of simulation processes and supports as a neutral consultant.

Customer benefit

Through the early use of strength analyses in the design process, weak points are identified and eliminated at an early stage, costly test series are avoided and the quality of the product is decisively improved. In addition to a qualified calculation, PROSE attaches great importance to the interpretation and presentation of the results required for the customer, including explanations and, if necessary, documentation relevant for approval. Due to its great flexibility, PROSE can respond to customer requests at very short notice

        

Brake and thermal calculation locomotive Aaem841

Customer: Müller Technologie AG, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Define and obtain input data
  • Brake calculation in TrainBrac
  • Thermal calculation in ANSYS
  • Specification and selection matrix for brake blocks

Our Approach

PROSE defines and procures the input data based on the relevant standards, which are required for the approval of the vehicle. Subsequently, the calculations were carried out and optimized so that the defined requirements were met. For this purpose, a brake calculation in TrainBrac was created in close coordination with the customer, as well as a thermal brake calculation in ANSYS, in order to prove the performance of the brake.  PROSE also contacted various brake block suppliers for possible linings on the basis of the specifications and calculation results and prepared a selection and decision matrix for Müller Technologie AG, including recommendations for the selection of a suitable lining.

Customer benefit

Thanks to PROSE’s expertise in this field, the customer receives documents to prove the performance of the modernised brake, which comply with the relevant standards and can thus be submitted 1:1 to the assessor/expert to achieve approval. Furthermore, the specification and pre-evaluation of the brake blocks material with decision support enables an efficient enquiry of possible suppliers.

Mid-life maintenance of PRIMA BB27000 and BB37000 locomotives

Customer: AKIEM, France

Project tasks

  • Definition of the operations to be carried out for the mid-life maintenance of PRIMA locomotives
  • Identification of ways to increase reliability
  • Treatment of component obsolescence
  • List of changes that can be implemented in mid-life operation
  • Solutions for a hardware refresh
  • Definition of the industrialization process for mid-life
  • Analysis of the risks associated with the residual life of the equipment

Our Approach

PROSE has developed a high level of expertise in the PRIMA-E locomotive type, maintenance definition and reliability growth action plan.

Customer benefit

Thanks to its expertise in the field of rolling stock, over the entire life cycle, PROSE can offer its best services to accompany its customer through all the stages of the life of its locomotives.

Modernisation of 135 Interregio coaches for operator Flixtrain

Customer: Talbot Services GmbH, Germany

Project tasks

  • Creation of mechanical conversion
  • Preparation of circuit diagrams
  • Adaptation of air conditioning concept
  • Integration of new toilets
  • Integration of luggage racks
  • Certification support
  • Certification calculations
  • Mass management
  • Fire protection
  • Strength analysis

Our Approach

The Arkimbz, WRmbz, ABimdz, Bimdz and Bimz wagons were modernized, in following phases: starting-, initial-, planning, production- and execution phase. Finally the type test phase concluded the work.

Customer benefit

As a strategic engineering partner, PROSE was already able to convince the customer Flixtrain in the offer phase. When it came to the engineering work, you could rely on the skills of PROSE and thus focus on the conversion of the vehicles.

 

Audit of an ERTMS onboard system

Customer: Banedanmark (BDK), Denmark

Project tasks

  • Performance of the audit of the onboard projects of the Danish Signaling Program for the readiness for fitment
  • Assessment of the preparation for the installation phase of the vehicles in relation to:
    – Planning of the installation
    – Installation design
    – Prototype installation
    – Approval process
    – Assessment of different design issues

Our Approach

PROSE’s team of experts carried out this audit in less than three months; the audit covered the supplier Alstom, four railway operators, the national safety authority (Trafikstyrelsen), G-ISA and Banedanmark.

Customer benefit

Thanks to PROSE’s independent recommendations, our customer was able to optimize the current technical performance and to reduce the known risks.

Implementation of the approval project for lifting platforms used on tunnel maintenance vehicles

Customer: SBB Infrastructure, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Homologation management
  • Risk analysis on system level
  • Verification of stability by calculation
  • Verification of occupational safety, railroad safety

Our Approach

In a first phase, the basics for approval had to be elaborated for the two applications. Then, the feasibility was evaluated concluding a proof of stability, but also regarding commercial aspects. The necessary measures were derived here after to ensure safe operation. This report was discussed with the customer and the responsible authority (FOT).  In the second phase, the customer implemented the measures, PROSE controlled this implementation and prepared an evidence report.

Customer benefit

With the practical knowledge of the involved persons from SBB and PROSE, simple, cost-effective and practicable measures could be realized. The step by step process lead to legal certainty without investment before it was clear, that the project will reach its objective. By considering worker’s safety from the very beginning, the approval process could be simplified. Thus, no separate approval with a second approval authority was necessary, reducing time and costs as well as the related approval risk.

Development of a gauge-changing facility for operator MOB

Customer: Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland bernois MOB, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Feasibility analysis
  • Mechanical and control engineering development
  • Detailed Manufacturing Design
  • Strength analysis
  • Support Approval

Our Approach

In cooperation with MOB, PROSE has developed the gauge-changing facility in several phases from a simple prototype to a complex series production system.

Customer benefit

From an early stage of the development of the gauge change system, PROSE supported MOB in approval issues. The complexity of the numerous interfaces between the gauge-changing facility and the vehicles, the infrastructure as well as the train protection systems of MOB and BLS were taken into account by PROSE through a close cooperation with the involved partners. From the conceptual design to the successful commissioning, MOB could be supported solutionoriented and target-oriented from one source.

Expert assessment running dynamics of TramTrains

Customer: TÜV Rheinland, Germany

End customer: STADLER RAIL VALENCIA S.A.U., Spain

Project tasks

  • Creation and structuring of the verifications (in Karlsruhe for the EBO area, in Chemnitz for the EBO and BOStrab areas)
  • Monitoring of experiments
  • Expert assessment for the approval of the two tram trains according to §32 EBO in Germany (driving technology completely according to EN 14363) and in Chemnitz also according to BOStrab

Our Approach

In a first phase, the coordination of processes and the scope of approval with the competent authorities is therefore essential. This often also influences the duration of the approval process, the costs, and the risks. PROSE developed the verification concept together with the manufacturer. In a second phase, the agreed reports to provide evidence were prepared. This was done with the involvement of the manufacturer and the testing authorities. In the third phase these reports were assessed and finally the expert report was prepared

Customer benefit

The wide experience of the experts at PROSE lead to an optimal definition of processes and requirements from the beginning. This reduced process risks right from the beginning and ensured adequate stakeholder management. The active process design lead to a solid and target-oriented verification process involving authorities, manufacturers, test laboratories and other third parties. The customers also appreciated the swift feedback on the submitted documents and, in case of problems, the support in finding solutions.

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