The overall goal of the Competence Center is to achieve increased quality in railroad transportation and at the same time to lower production, maintenance, operational and environmental costs. The interaction of various railroad mechanical components is given special consideration.
Specific goals are life-cycle optimized components and systems for track structure and running gear.
These should result in slower degradation of ballast, increased lifetime of sleepers and pads, improved track alignment stability, reduced rail and wheel wear, better braking processes, increased safety, and better comfort in the form of lower levels of vibration and noise in trains and tracks and in their surroundings. Special equipment Stationary test-rig for wheels and brakes in Surahammar. USD 0.3m Sets of apparatus for testing and analysis of components and materials at Solid Mechanics and at Engineering Metals at Chalmers.