Impact resistance of thermoplastics - Prediction from bulk properties

Published versio

Specimen temperature conditioning and drift before an S4 pipe fracture test

Accepted versio

Specimen temperature conditioning and drift before an S4 pipe fracture test

Accepted versio

SmartDrive: Traction Energy Optimization and Applications in Rail Systems

This paper presents the development of SmartDrive package to achieve the application of energy-efficient driving strategy. The results are from collaboration between Ricardo Rail and the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE). Advanced tram and train trajectory optimization techniques developed by BCRRE as part of the UKTRAM More Energy Efficiency Tram project have been now incorporated in Ricardo's SmartDrive product offering. The train trajectory optimization method, associated driver training and awareness package (SmartDrive) has been developed for use on tram, metro, and some heavy rail systems. A simulator was designed that can simulate the movement of railway vehicles and calculate the detailed power system energy consumption with different train trajectories when implemented on a typical AC or DC powered route. The energy evaluation results from the simulator will provide several potential energy-saving solutions for the existing route. An enhanced Brute Force algorithm was developed to achieve the optimization quickly and efficiently. Analysis of the results showed that by implementing an optimal speed trajectory, the energy usage in the network can be significantly reduced. A driver practical training system and the optimized lineside driving control signage, based on the optimized trajectory were developed for testing. This system instructed drivers to maximize coasting in segregated sections of the network and to match optimal speed limits in busier street sections. The field trials and real daily operations in the Edinburgh Tram Line, U.K., have shown that energy savings of 10%-20% are achievable

Traction Power Substation Load Analysis with Various Train Operating Styles and Substation Fault Modes

Simulation of railway systems plays a key role in designing the traction power supply 13 network, managing the train operation and making changes of timetables. Various simulation 14 technologies have been developed to study the railway traction power network and train operation 15 independently. However, the inter-action among load performance, train operation and fault 16 conditions have been fully understood. This paper proposes a mathematical modeling method to 17 simulate the railway traction power network with consideration of multi-train operation, driving 18 controls, under-voltage traction, and substation fault modes. The network voltage, power load 19 demands, energy consumption according to the existing operation are studied. The hotspots of the 20 power supply network are identified based on the evaluation of train operation and power demand. 21 The impact of traction power substation (TPSS) outage and short circuit on the power supply 22 network have been simulated and analyzed. The simulation results have been analyzed and 23 compared with the normal operation. A case study based on a practical metro line in Singapore 24 Metro is developed to illustrate the power network evaluation performance

Cost modelling-based route applicability analysis of United Kingdom passenger railway decarbonization options

The UK government plans to phase out pure diesel trains by 2040 and fully decarbonize railways by 2050. Hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) trains, electrified trains using pantographs (Electrified Trains), and battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) trains are considered the main solutions for decarbonizing railways. However, the range of these decarbonization options’ line upgrade cost advantages is unclear. This paper analyzes the upgrade costs of three types of trains on different lines by constructing a cost model and using particle swarm optimization (PSO), including operating costs and fixed investment costs. For the case of decarbonization of the London St. Pancras to Leicester line, the electrified train option is more cost-effective than the other two options under the condition that the service period is 30 years. Then the traffic density range in which three new energy trains have cost advantages on different line lengths is calculated. For route distances under 100 km and with a traffic density of less than 52 trips/day, BEMU trains have the lowest average cost, while electrified trains are the most cost-effective in other ranges. For route distances over 100 km, the average cost of HFC trains is lower than that of electrified trains at traffic densities below about 45 trips/day. In addition, if hydrogen prices fall by 26 %, the cost advantage range of HFC trains will increase to 70 trips per day. For route distances under 100 km, BEMU trains still maintain their advantages in terms of lower traffic density