University of Huddersfield's Institute for Railway Research
The Institute of Railway Researcher's Professor Simon Iwnicki in the Institute's test rig.
A University of Huddersfield research project will look at how 3D printing technologies may be able to reduce the weight and noise and increase the comfort and reliability of railway vehicles.
The project is part of the €2,732,000 RUN2RAIL programme and will also explore how carbon fibre frames can be harnessed to add lightweighting and increase dependability.
Receiving backing from the European Union, RUN2RAIL consists of four packages which concern innovative sensors & condition monitoring; optimised materials; active suspensions & control technologies; and noise and vibration. The optimised materials package will be led by the University’s Institute for Railway Research (IRR) after nearly £300,000 was put forward. Funding is supplied from the EU’s multi-faceted Shift2Rail programme, which looks to support research and innovation in European railways.
The IRR will work closely with Politecnico di Milano, consultants RINA, and Italian engineering and design company, Blue Group. A meeting between the partners has resulted in the exploration of carbon fibre composites and 3D printed components, and their potential to help develop lighter, more reliable, more comfortable and quieter rolling stock. They will look at how 3D printing, laser-based and powder-based, can be harnessed to manufacture such components as axle boxes and brackets for brakes. Meanwhile, carbon fibre is being mooted as a material that could be used for bogie frames. This has already been successfully carried out by an engineering firm, per IRR, but the research division suggests through RUN2RAIL it could see ‘unprecedented usage of novel materials in rolling stock construction.’
The RUN2RAIL project has commenced and will be completed by August 2019: “We hope that the result will be a step change in the running gear of rail vehicles,” the IRR’s Director, Professor Simon Iwnicki, commented.
