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ACADEMIC CAPABILITIES

University of Huddersfield

Institue of Railway Research (IRR)

Overview

The Institute of Railway Research (IRR) within the School of Computing and Engineering at The University of Huddersfield is a world-leading centre in the field of railway engineering and safety.

RTS PRIORITY AREAS

  • Data driven
  • Optimised train operations
  • Reliable and easy to maintain

Centres of Excellence / Research Groups

UKRRIN Centre of Excellence in Rolling Stock – Lead

Centre for Innovation in Rail

Test facilities

  • Full-Scale Bogie Rolling Contact, Adhesion and Braking Rig

  • Full-Scale High-Performance Test Bench for Pantograph and Catenary Research and Technology Development

  • THOMoS: Train Hi-fidelity Motion Simulator

  • High Performance Computing (HPC) system for Big Data analytics

  • Scaled laboratory test rigs

  • Track and vehicle measuring equipment

Research themes

Topic: Vehicle and Track dynamics
Summary:

Vehicle & track dynamics:

  • Mechatronic trains and suspension optimisation
  • Wheel-rail interaction and damage prediction
  • Train-structure interaction in transition zones and in switches & crossings

Component design and failure mode analysis:

  • Asset life prediction and optimisation
  • Maintenance planning
Project examples: Shift2Rail: in2Rail, In2Track, EPSRC: Track to the Future, Crossrail intelligent maintenance tool, HS2 track system & WRI performance
Topic: Traction, Braking and Energy Systems
Summary:

Traction and braking system research
Wheel-rail adhesion research
Hybrid drivetrain and alternative energy evaluation
Energy recovery system development
Decarbonisation strategy development

Project examples: LABRADOR: low adhesion train braking model development (RSSB), LILAC: investigation of the effect of wheel-rail third-body layers on adhesion (RSSB), Decarbonisation options for rail (RSSB), Digital displacement pumps for high efficiency drives (RSSB)
Topic: Pantograph and Overhead Systems
Summary:

Contact quality assessment & improvement
Virtual homologation of pantograph-OLE systems
Multiple pantographs in straight & curved tracks
Design of rigid & flexible OLE systems
Dynamic gauging & clearances
Catenary discrete features
Pantograph design & performance
Full-scale test facility for pantograph-OLE dynamics
Sensing systems, sensor calibration, RCM

Project examples: EU: S2R-PantOCL (2018-2020), PantoCat_NR: Panto-OLE Dynamics Tool (2019-2021), Panto-OLE Compatibility: Conventional/High-Speed (2019-2021), Design of Novel Pantographs (2020-2021)
Topic: Railway Safety and Risk
Summary:

Risk analysis:

  • risk modelling and & verification of complex systems incl. railway signalling;
  • level crossing safety risk management;
  • development of whole-system safety cases;
  • development of safety management systems for rail safety accreditation.

Safety and risk management training.
Auditing of safety critical functions.
Accident investigation and expert testimony.
Emergency preparedness: risk analysis of high-consequence events & development of emergency response procedures;

Project examples: T996 Vehicle-Track Categorisation System, Economic Tyre Turning (RSSB Strategic Partnership), D-RAIL, SET Wheelmotor (Radical Train)
Topic: Data Analysis and Smart Maintainance
Summary:

Big data analytics and machine learning
Condition monitoring systems
Smart maintenance and prognostics
Automated scheduling and planning
Robotics for rolling stock maintenance
Natural language Processing (NLP) for analysis of text records

Project examples: Smart rolling stock maintenance research facility (ERDF), Data-driven optimisation of wheelset maintenance (EPSRC, Siemens), Condition based maintenance of locomotive bogies and RCM (S2R), Big data analytics for point operating machine fault detection (NR)
Topic: Technology Development and Innovation
Summary:

Design Support and R&D
Route to Market
Funding Advice
SME Collaboration
Simulation, Analysis and Testing
Innovation and Business Case Support

Project examples: Intelligent gauge corner lubrication detection, Train-based void detection, Wheel defect detection, Level-crossing matting development

Fact File (2019-20)

39 Research staff
6 PhD students
0 Masters students

Capability matrix

From training engineers to developing world-leading technologies, BCRRE collaborate with industry and academia to drive UK and global rail innovation.
CAPABILITY
CAPABILITY LEVEL
Infrastructure
Electrification
Track Design and Components
Structures
Earthworks and geotechnics
Control, command and signalling
Communication networks and technologies
Station design
Depots / yards
infrastructure testing
Condition monitoring and inspection
Asset management
Maintenance
Other
Rolling Stock
Component design
Structures and crashworthiness
Testing
Maintenance
Condition monitoring and inspection
Asset management
Comfort / ride quality
Traction / train borne energy
Onboard IT
Train control and onboard diagnosis
Fire performance
Braking systems
Others
Operations
Train control and signalling
Level crossings / road-rail interfaces
Traffic management
Timetable optimisation
Revenue management
Telematics / data structures
Customer services for passengers
Customer services for freight
Safety management
Security management
Station management
Big Data Science and Analytics
Technical systems integration and interaction
Aerodynamics
Noise and vibration
Electromagnetic Compatibility
Pantograph catenary interaction
3rd rail collector shoe interaction
Wheel rail interface
Vehicle track dynamics
Whole system design and modelling
Whole system reliability
Cross-system technologies
Big Data Science and Analytics
Weather and climate change
Adaptation to climate change
Extreme temperatures
Flooding
Extreme precipitation
High winds
Wheel-rail adhesion
Human Factors
Human performance
Selection and training
Health
Human reliability
Job design
Environmental design
Attitudes and behaviours
Human Factors in relation to Safety Systems
Policy and decision making
Risk evaluation and assessment
Interoperability
Economic analysis and evaluation
Sustainable development
Enabling Innovation
Market research
Social dynamics of transport
Commercial dynamics of transport
Legal and regulatory frameworks
Safety Management Systems
Safety Evalutation and Audit

Education and Professional Development

PhD opportunitiesYes

Location key contacts

Name: Yann Bezi, Professor Dpt of Engineering and Technology
Email: y.bezin@hud.ac.uk

Website
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