Lightweight and Low-Cost Composite beams for Rolling Stock Applications

该项目将建立一个具有成本效益的组合梁的潜在应用，以解决铁路行业对轻质结构的需求。这种复合材料梁摆脱了传统的高废料复合材料解决方案，是目前铁路部门使用的金属部件的替代品。它将提供一种设计车体和转向架的新方法，以及梁沿着其长度、宽度和高度的尺寸的灵活性，以支持最终用户的需求。为了证明在机车车辆上使用这种梁的可能性，必须确定极端条件下复合结构的性能。LoCoBeaStconsortium由Far-UK Ltd领导，该公司开发了一种名为Axontex™的专利复合梁技术，并将WMG作为学术合作伙伴，分享其在高载荷和环境测试方面的专业知识。该项目的主要产出将是一个小规模的演示器，验证低浪费和负担得起的复合梁可以承受极端条件，因此是铁路行业的一个新的颠覆性解决方案。

This project will establish the potential application of a cost-effective composite beam to address the need forlightweight structures in the rail industry. The composite beam moves away from traditional high-wastecomposite solutions and is an alternative to metal components currently used in the rail sector. It will offer anew way of designing car bodies and bogies and flexibility in the dimensions of the beam along its length, widthand height, supporting end-users’ needs. To demonstrate the possibility of using such beams for rolling stock, itis essential to determine the performance of the composite structure in extreme conditions. The LoCoBeaStconsortium is led by Far-UK Ltd, who has developed a patented composite beam technology called Axontex™,and has WMG as an academic partner who will share its expertise in high-load and environmental testing. Themain project output will be a small-scale demonstrator verifying that a low-waste and affordable compositebeam can sustain extreme conditions and therefore be a new disruptive solution for the rail industry.