Page 2 - Automotive2-Railroad Industry

Shimadzu's Strength, Fatigue, and Endurance

Evaluation Testing Systems Support the

Development of the Railroad Industry

Railroads have a long history as both a day-to-day means of transport for people, and a means of
transporting freight over land. Railroad technology has made huge strides, changing its power source and
component members, in response to the desire to travel farther, faster and in more comfort, for lower cost
and in a way that is kinder to the passengers.
Railroad technology has achieved superior levels of safety, comfort, speed, accuracy, and energy savings.
Achieving these levels has required a wide range of evaluation testing. Such technical innovation is
never-ending, and continues to increase in scale.
Evaluation instruments have also made similar strides. They are routinely used in the evaluation of physical
characteristics in materials development as well as for quality control of components, performance evaluation
of actual cars, and reliability evaluation for infrastructure used in the operation of the railroads, and they
continue to play a part in the assessment of a range of aspects of railroad development and operation.

Shimadzu Corporation has acquired a wealth of technical ability in regard to strength and endurance testing
in the development of a range of materials, and simulation testing on actual sample, and is actively engaged
in applying this knowledge in the railroad industry. We offer our customers access to our knowhow in the
field of evaluation testing, and hope that they will take advantage of it.

Evaluation of Safety and Comfort During Travel
The chassis of a train car has a direct impact on the car's comfort and safety, and
requires the highest standards of reliability. Endurance evaluation and periodic
maintenance are performed on the chassis frame, which is the main strength
member from which the chassis is configured, the wheels and axles that bear the
weight of the car and propel the train forwards, and the various spring
components that absorb vibration, which are used under punishing load
conditions.

Evaluation of the Endurance and Reliability of the Track
The rails are a vital component part of ensuring drive safety for trains, and out of all the
track components making up a railroad, particular care must be taken of rails. Rails are
inspected using both ultrasonic flaw detection and visual examinations, and
replacements are often made before parts reach the end of their useful lives. Rail fatigue
lifespan can be estimated using a range of tests, including ascertaining the stress load on
the rails, evaluating their endurance in regard to repeated loading, and reproduction and
simulation of actual working waveform that occurs when the train is running.