Repair Underframe Cracks
Client : Via Rail
Location : Montreal,Quebec
Year : 2021
Via Rail is renown in the passenger railcar industry. It owns and operates Renaissance railcars for long distance intercity transportation.
LDV Consultants was mandated to perform a structural repair procedure on a Renaissance railcar for the purpose of putting it back into service. During its site visits, LDV defined the project needs and took measurements of the surrounding components.
Next, LDV validated the procedure using engineering calculations and producing the shop drawings needed to manufacture the reinforcement pads. In addition, LDV provided support to the Via Rail team during installation of the reinforcement pads.
Repair a Wrecked Rail Car
Client : CAD Railway Industries
Location : Montreal,Quebec
Year : 2020
As a result of a collision, one of VIA Rail's fleet of LRC cars sustained damage to the structure's posts and outer shell. CAD Railway Industries was mandated to repair the structural damages.
CAD Railway Industries mandated LDV Consultants to provide the engineering for the following:
- Assess damages;
- Identify the damages on site;
- Visually inspect the damaged areas;
- Take measurements;
- Take dimensional measurements;
- Adapt the dimensions to the deformed components;
- Draw up a repair plan in accordance with APTA PR-CS-S-020-03;
- Use equivalent or replacement parts;
- Design parts with resistances equivalent to those of the original parts;
- Produce final drawings that reflect all phases of the repair plan.
End Results
The suggested way of rebuilding the posts ensured the mechanical resistances were equal to those of the original parts. The client was able to repair the damages and put the rail car back into service.
Perform a FEA on Railcar Fasteners and Support
Client : Rail GD
Location : New Richmond
Year : 2020
Since 2012, Rail GD Inc. is a company that repairs and refurbishes passenger trains, Colorado railcars, tourism trains, freight wagons and locomotives.
Rail GD needed to upgrade a Via Rail kitchen railcar. This upgrade involved, among other things, installing new support structures for the water heater and refrigerator compressors located at the "A" end of the kitchen railcar.
LDV Consultants was mandated by Rail GD to perform a finite element analysis (FEA) to calculate the stresses and strains on the fasteners and support structures of the equipment installed by Via Rail:
- All kitchen equipment (oven, fridge, cabinets, etc.);
- Water heater and refrigerator compressors;
- Evaporator-fan unit of the wagon.
This equipment was installed by Rail GD in a Via Rail kitchen railcar.
The project included the following:
- Check the structural integrity of the base metal of the support structures;
- Check the structural integrity of the bolts and rivets that connect the support structures to the kitchen railcar.
All in compliance with the applicable railway standards.
Technical Support for the Design of Test Equipment
Client : Héroux-Devtek
Location : Saint-Hubert, Quebec
Year : 2016
Héroux-Devtek is an international company specializing in the design, manufacture and testing of landing gears. The company also conducts laboratory tests to certify existing landing gears. To perform these tests, Héroux-Devtek needed to design a test bench. It mandated LDV Consultants to take part in the design of the test bench.
As part of the mandate, LDV Consultants carried out the following:
- Design interfaces for load application;
- Produce a 3D model of the test interfaces;
- Produce the drawings for the test interfaces.
To acquire the knowledge and work methods advocated by the client, LDV Consultants’ engineer went to Héroux-Devtek's offices in St-Hubert. Afterwards, from its offices in Chambly, LDV completed its mandate to optimize the schedule.
Integrate a Cummins Tier-4i Engine in a Haulage Truck
Client : Dux Machinery
Location : Montreal,Quebec
Year : 2013
DUX Machinery is a leading manufacturer of underground haulage equipment. Power mechanization of its equipment needs to change in order to meet the requirements of the environmental regulation.
The haulage truck must be adapted so that a new engine and, more importantly, new air intake and exhaust components can be installed.
LDV was therefore mandated to finalize the selection of the engine options, validate the heat transfer equipment with regard to air intake and engine cooling and adapt the engine compartment to allow installation of a new air filter and exhaust.
Repair a Two-Level Aluminum Railcar
Client : Bombardier Transportation
Location : Los Angeles, California, USA
Year : 2012
Bombardier is a world leader in land and air transportation. Its Bombardier Transportation Division offers one of the world's most comprehensive series of rail vehicles.
Further to an accident, extensive damage was done to one side of railcar #125 owned by Metrolink. Bombardier Transportation mandated LDV Consultants to evaluate the damage and propose a potential repair scenario.
As part of the mandate, LDV carried out the following:
- Inspect the damaged railcar at the maintenance centre;
- Develop a repair scenario together with the Methods Department of the Thunder Bay plant.