BS EN 61373:2010

This standard BS EN 61373:2010 Railway applications. Rolling stock equipment. Shock and vibration tests is classified in these ICS categories:

• 45.060.01 Railway rolling stock in general
• 17.160 Vibrations, shock and vibration measurements

This International Standard specifies the requirements for testing items of equipment intended for use on railway vehicles which are subsequently subjected to vibrations and shock owing to the nature of railway operational environment. To gain assurance that the quality of the equipment is acceptable, it has to withstand tests of reasonable duration that simulate the service conditions seen throughout its expected life.

Simulated long-life testing can be achieved in a number of ways each having their associated advantages and disadvantages, the following being the most common:

1. amplification: where the amplitudes are increased and the time base decreased;

2. time compression: where the amplitude history is retained and the time base is decreased (increase of the frequency);

3. decimation: where time slices of the historical data are removed when the amplitudes are below a specified threshold value.

The amplification method as stated in a) above, is used in this standard and together with the publications referred to in Clause 2; it defines the default test procedure to be followed when vibration testing items for use on railway vehicles. However, other standards exist and may be used with prior agreement between the manufacturer and the customer. In such cases test certification against this standard will not apply. Where service information is available tests can be performed using the method outlined in Annex A. If the levels are lower than those quoted in this standard, equipment is partially certified against this standard (only for service conditions giving functional test values lower than or equal to those specified in the test report).

Whilst this standard is primarily concerned with railway vehicles on fixed rail systems, its wider use is not precluded. For systems operating on pneumatic tyres, or other transportation systems such as trolleybuses, where the level of shock and vibration clearly differ from those obtained on fixed rail systems, the supplier and customer can agree on the test levels at the tender stage. It is recommended that the frequency spectra and the shock duration/amplitude be determined using the guidelines in Annex A. Equipment tested at levels lower than those quoted in this standard cannot be fully certified against the requirements of this standard.

An example of this is trolleybuses, whereby body-mounted trolleybus equipment could be tested in accordance with category 1 equipment referred to in the standard.

This standard applies to single axis testing. However multi-axis testing may be used with prior agreement between the manufacturer and the customer.

The test values quoted in this standard have been divided into three categories dependent only upon the equipment’s location within the vehicle.

Category 1 Body mounted

Class A Cubicles, subassemblies, equipment and components mounted directly on or under the car body.

Class B Anything mounted inside an equipment case which is in turn mounted directly on or under the car body.

NOTE 1 Class B should be used when it is not clear where the equipment is to be located.

Category 2 Bogie mounted

Cubicles, subassemblies, equipment and components which are to be mounted on the bogie of a railway vehicle.

Category 3 Axle mounted

Subassemblies, equipment and components or assemblies which are to be mounted on the wheelset assembly of a railway vehicle.

NOTE 2 In the case of equipment mounted on vehicles with one level of suspension such as wagons and trucks, unless otherwise agreed at the tender stage, axle mounted equipment will be tested as category 3, and all other equipment will be tested as category 2.

The cost of testing is influenced by the weight, shape and complexity of the equipment under test. Consequently at the tender stage the supplier may propose a more cost-effective method of demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this standard. Where alternative methods are agreed it will be the responsibility of the supplier to demonstrate to his customer or his representative that the objective of this standard has been met. If an alternative method of evaluation is agreed, then the equipment tested cannot be certified against the requirement of this standard.

This standard is intended to evaluate equipment which is attached to the main structure of the vehicle (and/or components mounted thereon). It is not intended to test equipment which forms part of the main structure. Main structure in the sense of this standard means car body, bogie and axle. There are a number of cases where additional or special vibration tests may be requested by the customer, for example:

1. equipment mounted on, or linked to, items which are known to produce fixed frequency excitation;

2. equipment such as traction motors, pantographs, shoegear, or suspension components which may be subjected to tests in accordance with their special requirements, applicable to their use on railway vehicles. In all such cases the tests carried out should be dealt with by separate agreement at the tender stage;

3. equipment intended for use in special operational environments as specified by the customer.