The new CD lab wants to slow down the railcars as fast as possible

The train’s steel wheels roll on steel rails, enabling energy-saving and environmentally friendly movement. However, low rolling resistance is a disadvantage when it comes to braking at speed – it increases the braking distance. Christian Doppler’s new laboratory (CD), which opened Monday at the Technical University (TU) in Vienna, wants to closely examine and improve braking technology for railway vehicles.

When braking railway vehicles, “problems often appear, especially in wet places or due to dirt such as wet leaves in autumn,” explained Johannes Edelmann, head of the “CD Laboratory for Improving Braking Behavior of Railway Vehicles”. Institute of Mechanics and Mechatronics of the Technical University (TU) Vienna in broadcast. In such cases, systems that operate independently of the wheel rail contact are used. These include, for example, magnetic rail brakes or systems that use sand to increase friction between the wheel and the rail.

Even in difficult circumstances

Together with CD Lab’s institutional partner, the scientists are pursuing several goals at the same time: “We want good braking performance, especially under difficult conditions. In addition, better braking systems should reduce wear and protect the infrastructure,” he says. Edelman. The reduced weight of braking systems can also help save energy.

Therefore researchers would like to gain an accurate understanding of the dynamic behavior during the braking process, among other things. Based on this, complex mathematical and computer simulation models have to be developed and measurements taken on a new test stand and on the real vehicle. The goal is to improve braking technology for railway vehicles.

At CD Labs, which has been CDG-approved for seven years, scientists collaborate with companies on application-oriented basic research. Half the budget comes from the public sector and the other half from commercial partners – in this particular case Knorr- Bremse GmbH.

service: Internet: https://www.cdg.ac.at/