Experimental Methods for the GRP Bogie Structure Integrity Assessment

A cost effective bogie is developed at a revolutionary design by the use of advanced fibre reinforced plastics composites operating under extreme load bearing conditions in a hostile environment.This 22.5 tonnes per axle bogie comprises an upper and lower bogie GRP frame. These frames are moulded direct to the final shape and under a load the bogie frames deflect to provide the suspension part of the bogie. The composite GRP bogie is designed allows the wheels to follow more accurately the line of the track by self-steering effects of this bogie, with consequently a corresponding reduction of the track forces and improved the ride quality.The concept of GRP bogie was evaluated at fifth-scale model by making, instrumenting and testing two bogies which have been in service more than 9 years fitted to a passenger wagon at Southampton's Lakeside Railway to study the interactions between the track and the wagon. Every feature of the full scale bogie has been replicated including the axle boxes, central pivot point and the disc brakes. Two different suspension types were monitored during the runs at the Eastleigh railway track: a steel-bogie and a GRP-bogie equipped wagon.A shaker test rig has been developed for testing the whole rail vehicle at various performance conditions as well as with various suspension types to get these interactions using electro-hydraulic testing system Schenck. Several tests were performed like drop test, sweep tests, track profile test and so on to assess the properties and structural integrity of the developed bogie.