ITM Railcar Strain Gauging & Testing Services

ITM EXTENDS USEFUL LIFE OF RAILCAR USING FATIGUE TESTING

Experts in strain gauge, data acquisition, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on rail cars and rolling stock

Integrated Test & Measurement (ITM) has a wealth of experience in the field of railcar fatigue testing, having worked with numerous railcar manufacturers and operators to help ensure the structural integrity and safe operation of their rolling stock. One of the key tools in our arsenal for railcar testing is strain gauging, which allows us to measure the loads and stresses that railcars experience during operation.

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One of the major benefits of strain gauging is that it allows us to safely test rail cars without having to remove any components or disrupt the normal operation of the vehicle. This is important for railcar operators, as it allows them to continue to use their vehicles while testing is being performed.

Once a certain type of strain gauges has been installed, ITM engineers can use specialized data acquisition equipment and measurement applications to collect data on the loads and stresses experienced by the railcar. This data is then analyzed using advanced software and techniques, such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA), to determine the structural integrity of the railcar and identify any areas of concern.

One of the key advantages of ITM’s strain gauging and testing services is our ability to provide detailed, accurate, and actionable results. Our engineers have the experience and expertise to interpret the data we collect and provide recommendations on how to address any issues we identify. This can include everything from minor repairs to major overhauls, depending on the nature of the problem.

Overall, ITM’s strain gauging and testing services provide rail car operators with a real world powerful tool for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of their vehicles. By staying ahead of potential problems, operators can reduce downtime, save money, and improve the overall safety of their railcars.

Fatigue testing is a specialized form of mechanical testing that is performed by applying cyclic loading to a structure. These tests are used either to generate fatigue life and crack growth data, identify critical locations or demonstrate the safety of a structure that may be susceptible to fatigue.

Fatigue failures in rail cars can be caused by a variety of factors, including repetitive loading, corrosion, and poor maintenance. Some of the most common fatigue failures that impact rail cars include fractures in the frame or underframe.

More about load cells

A load cell is a device that is used to measure weight or force. It typically consists of a metal element, such as a beam or cylinder, that deforms under a load, and an electrical sensor that measures this deformation. The load cell converts this deformation into an electrical signal, which can then be read by an external device, such as a digital scale or control system.

Load cells are commonly used in industrial settings, such as in manufacturing and packaging, as well as in scientific research and testing. They can be used to measure a wide range of loads, from small precision loads to large industrial loads.

More about strain gauges

A strain gauge is a device that is used to measure strain, or the change in length of a material under load. It typically consists of a thin, metallic foil that is affixed to the surface of the material being tested. As the material is loaded, the foil stretches or compresses, causing a change in its electrical resistance. This change in resistance is proportional to the amount of strain on the material.

A strain gauge can be connected in a circuit known as a Wheatstone Bridge circuit, that helps to amplify the small changes in resistance to a measurable output signal. Strain gauges are widely employed in industrial, research, and scientific fields to evaluate strain on bridges, buildings, machinery, and equipment in order to measure mechanical stress and bending. They are also used in the medical field for monitoring of human body movements and in the aerospace industry for measuring structural loads on aircrafts.

Our experts specialize in excitation voltage, strain gage, electrical resistance, metallic foil, foil strain gauge, load cell, civil engineering, fatigue failure, wheatstone bridge technology, fatigue life, cyclic loading, gauge factor and more.

Contact us for more information about strain gauge service, data acquisition and more.