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The following projects are only a few of the many design and testing projects undertaken by LDK Engineering.
 DYNAMIC TRACK FORCE CALCULATIONS
- Calculation of vertical track loads and stresses for high-speed passenger locomotives with various traction suspension arrangements operating over a range of operating speeds.
EMERGENCY BRAKING DESIGN FOR A MONORAIL VEHICLE
- Design and construction of emergency brake equipment for a Monorail System provided by Bombardier Transport. Design included the use of both commercially available and specially designed components for the high energy, compact disc brake equipment. Extensive lab testing conducted to optimize component designs and material selections, and to demonstrate system safety and reliability.
- Performed thermal and 3D stress analysis of the monorail brake disc arrangement using ANSYS® Thermal and LinearPlus Finite Element programs.
TRANSIT VEHICLE STRUCTURAL EVALUATION
- Structural tests carried out as part of the qualification process for various transit vehicles. Work included the development of a test procedure, identifying strain gauge locations, overseeing structural testing, analyzing test results and produce a final report.
- Strain gauge tests of carbody structures in the field. Strain gauging and calibration of bolt load cells. Measurement of service loads and pressures. Damage and Life prediction analysis.
LOCOMOTIVE MOTOR NOSE BRACKET STRESS/FATIGUE ANALYSIS
- Performed a 3D FEA Stress analysis (using the ANSYS® FEA LinearPlus program) of several locomotive motor nose brackets to verify improved designs used by a North American truck casting company. The analysis included writing a comprehensive macro to evaluate infinite fatigue life equivalent stresses at each node (using specific dynamic and static criteria) from the results of the initial static analysis.
VEHICLE CRASHWORTHINESS
- Developed computer software to simulate rail vehicle collisions. Provided engineering support for vehicle design of Crash Energy Management (CEM) and coupler system designs.
FEA TRANSIENT THERMAL WHEEL ANALYSIS AND BRAKING PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS
- Performed transient thermal wheel analysis using the ANSYS® Thermal FEA program, and braking performance calculations using an in-house calculator program. The analysis estimated wheel temperatures and braking distances for various combinations of brake shoes over specific routes.
NEW CONCEPT FREIGHT CAR DESIGN
- Provided technical support to a leading North American freight car supplier in the structural design of a new concept freight car for inter-modal use.
INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL AUDIT OF INTERMODAL EQUIPMENT
- Performed an independent technical audit of new concept of inter-modal rail equipment. The audit included the review of all the vehicle’s structure, mechanical systems, electrical systems and vehicle suspension.
VEHICLE WEIGHT AUDITS
- Provided team support in the weight audit of several types of rail vehicles. Included were the review of proposed designs and material selections, and the suggestion of alternate processes, designs and methods to reduce overall vehicle weights.
COACH DISC HUB MOVEMENT INVESTIGATION
- Conducted an independent investigation into the cause of the observed lateral movement of disc hubs on the wheelsets of a high-speed passenger car.
- Reviewed relevant design, manufacturing, and assembly aspects of components. Examined various mechanisms that could cause the problem and participated in development of procedures and changes in manufacturing and machining methods.
- Performed FEA simulation (using the ANSYS® program) of a disc brake hub press fit onto an axle to verify test data.
TRAIN PERFORMANCE AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS
- Conducted detailed train performance simulations and fuel consumption calculations for high-speed passenger train configurations, showing the benefits of high cant deficiency operation and track infrastructure improvements.
RAILCAR ANTI-WHEELSLIDE SYSTEM TESTING
- Conducted instrumented testing of the braking system on a VIA Rail passenger car to monitor and diagnose the effectiveness of the anti-wheelslide system.
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