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 Strainstall in Railways - Safety in Real Time |
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Strainstall supply sensors and systems to monitor a complex array of parameters in the rail industry, covering points, track dynamics, bridges and tunnels and the wheel-rail interface.
Through working closely with the rail industry for many years we have been able to develop a number of specialist systems that help safeguard rail infrastructure, maximise asset performance and improve safety levels. Our clients include Network Rail, Eurotunnel, London Underground, SMRT, Balfour Beatty, AMEC, Amey, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Corus Rail, Nuttall, May Gurney and Vialis, as well as rolling stock manufactures such as Bombardier and Alstom, and rail asset condition monitoring companies. Our systems are relied upon to perform complex and precise measurement in conditions that require the processing and monitoring of large volumes of real-time data, as well as timely communication of maintenance and safety requirements and overall asset management. |
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Railway Points/Switch Monitoring
Strainstall’s widely used points pin (patented) replaces a component within railway points to monitor the force required for operation. This data provides information about the health and performance of the points, enabling maintenance staff to target resources effectively and avoid major and costly breakdowns.
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TrackAlert®
TrackAlert® is a flexible and cost effective way of detecting potentially damaging forces and wheel impact loads on rails. Developed by Strainstall over several years, the system was granted patents in 2002. The basic system needs no rail-mounted sensors, and can be installed without the need for trackside access, significantly reducing the real cost of installation. For every train movement, TrackAlert® provides real-time reports and alarms on:
- Train Speed and direction
- Train load and formation
- Bogie weights and overloads
- Cumulative tonnage – EMGTPA
- Vertical wheel impact
Suitable alarm trigger levels are configured for each TrackAlert® system during installation, and when excessive wheel impact or axle loads are detected, messages are issued automatically in real-time to give warning of a potential incident.
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Wheel Impact Load Detection
This system is an extension to the standard TrackAlert® package, and is designed for applications where wheel impact diagnosis is required to individual wheel level. In this case, sensors are mounted directly onto the rails, and each time a train passes the system records data. It can also be extended to provide information on vertical wheel impact and ballasted and non-ballasted track variants.
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Curving Interaction Systems
Provides information on the lateral forces exerted by locomotives and rolling stock on rails, and is particularly suitable for analysing wheel behaviour on curved track. Information and analysis is provided to identify:
- Lateral wheel forces
- Bogie curving
- Lateral position of wheel
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Bridge StrikeAlert
Many bridge strikes go undetected and unreported, with potentially serious consequences. Conversely, many reported bridge strikes are so minor that the subsequent train delays are unnecessary. Bridge StrikeAlert involves the instrumentation of a bridge to obtain dynamic shock measurements to ensure that in the event of a strike by a road vehicle, a rapid assessment can be made. This is particularly useful for sites with multiple decks or collision protection beams. Following a strike, information is immediately accessible via a signal box display to the local signaller and infrastructure maintainers, allowing the severity to be assessed. Depending on local procedures, this information can then be used in the decision making process as to individual lines being kept fully open, closed or trains cautioned. CCTV can also be installed to provide images for the identification of the vehicle that has caused the incident, and to detect whether the vehicle is trapped under the bridge.
Bridge StrikeAlert is available as a stand-alone package or can be combined with a TrackAlert® system.
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Vehicle and Rolling Stock Monitoring
Strainstall regularly install strain gauges and other sensors on rolling stock components to carry out dynamic monitoring. The information obtained can be used in fatigue analysis, ride quality and design assessments. Long term monitoring and testing systems have been developed for measurement of ride characteristics, vibration and wheel/track interaction effects and sliding-door closure force testing. These have been provided for major train manufacturers for use in the UK and worldwide.
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Bridges
Strainstall has carried out work on hundreds of bridge structures, ranging in scale from Forth and Tay bridges, Royal Albert Bridge and Newcastle High Level Bridge to three metre span under bridges. Working mainly with consultants and bridge owners, our comprehensive service not only deals with instrumentation and monitoring, but provides access to the information that is really needed about a particular structure.
We also provide instrumentation equipment for hire to contractors, particularly for use during repair and strengthening operations. This can include displacement and strain measurement equipment. We are able to assist in devising a suitable test or monitoring regime for problem structures, and information provided includes comprehensive load test data, in situ dead load stresses or loads and ongoing structural health monitoring.
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Strainstall UK Limited · 9-10 Mariners Way · Cowes · Isle of Wight · P031 8PD · UK
Tel: +44 (0)1983 203600 · Fax: +44 (0)1983 291335 · E-mail: enquiries@strainstall.com
© 2005 Strainstall UK Limited, All Rights Reserved
A James Fisher Group Company
Registered in England at Fisher House, PO Box 4, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 1HR
Registered Number: 4042929 - VAT Number: GB760192441
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