NRC — Compression and tension testing facility

Who is eligible?

Manufacturers in the rail, subway, and intermodal transportation industry can apply for this grant to test the structural integrity of their rail cars, subway, and intermodal vehicles using the compression and tension test services offered by the NRC.

Eligible expenses

The grant provides an opportunity for rail industry manufacturers to enhance safety and compliance through comprehensive testing of rail vehicles. Eligible projects focus on testing and verifying the structural and mechanical integrity of different types of rail vehicles.

• Testing rail car structural strength and integrity against industry standards.
• Verification of compliance with rail industry standards for rail vehicles.
• Testing and assessment of new drawbar devices for strength and lateral stability.
• Conducting detailed stress analysis with strain gauges, load cells, and sensors.
• Integration of finite element models with stress and fatigue analyses.

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The criteria are as follows:

• Compliance with rail industry standards
• Structural integrity verification
• Testing of new drawbar devices for strength and lateral stability

Here are additional relevant details for utilizing the NRC stationary compression and tension test services:

• The facility offers a complete, one-location solution, often used in conjunction with their rail vehicle impact ramp.
• The facility consists of a frame with twin parallel steel I–beams and a double-acting hydraulic ram capable of significant longitudinal compression and tension forces.
• Engineers provide detailed stress analysis reports utilizing signals from advanced sensors and instruments, integrated with finite element models.
• Testing assists in verifying compliance with stringent rail industry standards, identifying structural weaknesses before market introduction.