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Analytic Resources
TranSys Research Ltd. is well equipped with
the analytical tools necessary to support
our research and consulting activities. These
include proprietary models in the areas of
facility utilization, operations, investment
and track/train dynamics which are internally
maintained and may be modified to suit the
particular needs of any analysis. Please
contact us for further information on the
following models:
| LINMOD: | Analytic Line Capacity Model | STS: | Railway Line Simulation Model |
| OPSSIM: | Passenger Operations Simulation Model | LCCM: | Life Cycle Cost Model |
| TPC: | Train Performance Calculator | C-TEM: | Multi-driver Train Energy Model |
| DARTS: | Dynamic Analysis of Rail Track Structures. | |
Data Acquisition Capabilities
TranSys Research Limited has specific experience developing and operating data acquisition and analysis systems required to support various engineering investigations of interest within the railroad industry. This work has involved applications spanning a range from stationary collection of time-based rail deflection and acceleration data required to assess track modulus for a transit property to the collection of distance- and time-based data using equipment installed on instrumented railroad vehicles in support of investigations aimed at predicting future development of track geometry defects and relating track geometry to the development of wheel/rail forces.
For applications requiring short duration collection of time-based data, we have used Keithley VIEWDAC data acquisition software running on a DOS based PC. This software is a general purpose data acquisition and analysis package which implements a windowing style graphical user interface and multi-tasking operation to provide comprehensive capabilities for acquiring, analysing and plotting data. This software includes substantial signal analysis capabilities including software filtering, calculation of FFTs and PSDs of the acquired data. The interactive nature of the VIEWDAC system combined with its particular strength in processing moderately sized sets of data makes it most appropriate for attended data acquisition tasks.
Data Simulation Capabilities
TranSys Research Limited offers a significant capability to analyse the significance of observed behaviour and/or predict the dynamic motions of railway vehicles and components in response to wheel/rail excitation or application of other external forces or displacements. These efforts are supported through use of the A'GEM Rail Vehicle Dynamics Software Package which is built upon a generalized multibody system (MBS) dynamic simulation code developed by Dr. Ronald J. Anderson of the Queen's University department of Mechanical Engineering.
With the A'GEM package, a model of a rail vehicle is constructed which may then be used as the subject of time- and frequency-domain analyses to investigate the nature of its dynamic response in the modes of specific interest. The package includes programs to evaluate a vehicle's curving dynamics, stability, vertical dynamics and vertical ride quality as well as utility programs for processing wheel/rail geometries and creep coefficients. We have detailed knowledge of and experience using these simulation programs and have been involved in implementing selective enhancements when required. Moreover, we have recently developed in conjunction with the author of the A'GEM package, a new frequency-domain model for prediction of a vehicle's acceleration response and wheelset forces due to surface and crosslevel excitation.
We have other specific experience developing and using various special-purpose dynamic simulation programs and engineering analysis tools. These have included time-domain simulation programs to predict derailment dynamics, response and force development during collisions between rail vehicles and track obstructions and a program to examine head-on locomotive to locomotive collisions. The latter employed finite element analysis (FEA) techniques to develop a complex force-deflection characteristic representative of successive failure of locomotive structural components throughout the course of a collision.
Facility Utilization and Operations Models
Our suite of validated models support investigations
relating to plant, operating procedures and
equipment. At the train level they include:
the Train Performance Calculator (TPC) which
functions as the backbone of any assessment
of alternative transportation systems and
allows fast and accurate determination of
minimum run times and energy consumption;
the Train Energy Model (C-TEM) which permits
examination of the effects different driver-control
strategies have on run times and energy consumption
(additional special purpose modules have
been created which when used in conjunction
with the TPC support investigations of enforced
stop algorithms and examinations into the
use and influence of coasting on schedule
keeping and energy consumption); the Propulsion
Analysis Package, a suite of post processors
designed to calculate the performance of
electric, diesel-electric or hybrid propulsion
systems for a simulated train movement.
At the line level, they include: The Analytic
Line Model, a well proven tool for determining
the effects of changes to plant, operating
procedures or traffic on line capacity and
train performance (it may be used to carry
out quick and efficient sensitivity analyses
of changes to existing line characteristics
in both single- and partial double-track
operations); the Line Simulation Model (LSM)
provides a complimentary capability to simulate
schedules and dispatch logic, signal spacing,
track configurations and equipment reliability.
TranSys Research Ltd. has operation simulators
applicable to both railroads and transit
properties. The Fleet Planning Model (FPM)
is a tool for developing train service patterns
from a description of passenger demand, the
physical capabilities of equipment, basic
train service parameters, rules on track
capacity, trip times and turnaround times.
OPSSIM is an urban transit bus simulation
module which provides a simulation based
test bed for service control strategies.
It follows the progress of any number of
vehicles scheduled on one assigned route
when subjected to the influence of link congestion
and driver/bus variability.
Investment Models
The Life Cycle Cost Model (LCCM) is a general-purpose discounted cash flow investment package designed for convenient use by engineers, analysts or managers. It is an ideal tool for financial/economic analysis of capital and operating revenue/cost scenarios, equipment choice, route profitability and the impact of new technologies.
Track/Train Dynamics
TranSys Research Ltd. has a number of models tailored to examinations of various track and train dynamic analyses. These include a vertical rail vehicle dynamics simulation (VDRV), a rail vehicle curving simulator (RACES), a suite of train derailment and collision analysis models (FRIMP, SIMP, WIMP, LIMP), a train derailment mechanics model (DERAIL) and a detailed simulation of the dynamic response of railway track structures to dynamically applied loads such as wheel and track defects (DARTS).
3rd Party and Licensed Software
TranSys Research Ltd. uses a computerized PERT project scheduling, the VIEWDAC data acquisition software package for field and laboratory work requiring general data acquisition and analysis and SCADA the general purpose finite element analysis code for stress analysis work.
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