Characterization of transportation subsystems under extreme conditions

A French SME, acting as a technology center, is located in northern France. It is specialized in ground transportation sector, especially automotive and railway. It has for assignment to support companies in their research, innovation and development processes. To do so, it relies on a team of PhDs and engineers, and testing equipment for various thematic tests: reliability, comfort, safety, etc. The technology center is proposing to ground transportation manufacturers to characterize subsystems and components, under hard and extreme conditions tests to give them a complete knowledge of the product caracterized. The characterization could be done from material level to macro scale (component level). The complete life-cycle can be considered, regarding the envisaged use of the component. At material level, tests can be done to determine chemical, mechanical (static and dynamic) properties of the material. Then testing is performed on the component or subsystems itself. Plenty of tests are provided such as mechanical strength tests (traction, compression, fatigue, high velocity dynamics), acoustics tests, vibratory phenomena studies, aerodynamics, climatic phenomena or even pedestrian impact, or crash. The full range of high-ranking equipment provides a personal service to fulfill partner’s requirements. Extreme conditions can be simulated and this testing environment is really important for the several reasons: - Finding earlier the problematic development phases - Finding failure and malfunction - Enhancing resistance and reliability of the subsystem - Following the life cycle evolution of the product - Reducing the development costs and time The main advantage of the French technology center is to provide all this equipment in a unique place, and is able to offer a strong confidentiality (each workshop is well separated from each other to perform the tests). Equipment proposed can be used separately when the partner knows exactly what it needs to develop/control. But another strong advantage is to rely on the expertise of the team, used to work for ground transportation sector, to bring to the partner the best testing process to fulfill requirements needed. Testing conditions could be given under request. The French SME is looking for partners, from automotive and railway industry, to collaborate under technical cooperation agreements in order to characterize a subsystem or component according to the partners’ requirements. The French team is able to provide numerical simulation to improve the component tested and the development processes of the partner. It could also make tests and check specifications of the subsystem.