Transportation Systems Lab
Vehicle-Track Measurement System Development and Testing
Electrical, electronic, and mechanical prototyping, assembly, integration and testing workbenches enable the development of advanced, novel systems for in-situ measurement of vehicle-track and wheel-rail phenomena.
Sample Analysis and Characterization
A complete suite of metallographic sample preparation and analysis tools including sample cutting, mouting, grinding & polishing, inverted microscopy, and microhardness testing. Taken in combination with SFU's 4D Labs facility, the Vehicle Track Interactoin research group has access to a comprehensive collection of world class instruments for materials testing, scanning, and composition analysis.
Field Measurement System Calibration
Custom developed fixtures and systems enable the precise calibration verificaiton and testing of field measurement systems (e.g. wheel and rail profilometers), as well as operator training and hands-on education in wheel-rail interaction.
Modeling and Simulation
Wheel-Rail Contact
The CONTACT library for Matlab is used for in-depth analysis and simulation of complex wheel-rail contact conditions in practical railway settings.
Vehicle-Track Interaction
Universal Mechanism is used for multi-body dynamic simulation of vehicle-track interaction and longitudinal train dynamics in railway systems.
Field Measurement Systems
Wheel-Rail Profile and Vehicle-Track Geometry
Greenwood Engineering TwinHead Wheel and Rail Miniprof BT instruments are used for precise in-field measurement of wheel and rail profiles, wheelset spacing, and track geometry. This enables advanced vehicle-track interaction modelling and simulation, as well as assessments of wheel-rail contact conditions (e.g. equivalent conicity studies).