TUV Rheinland Rail Sciences Inc. (TUV RSI), a subsidiary of TÜV Rheinland North America Holding Inc., developed an Internet-based Web portal that will allow users to run rail vehicle dynamics simulations from any internet connection. The SimVeDynetm online vehicle dynamic simulator was formally introduced at EXPO yesterday in Booth# 5250.

Simulations will allow users to investigate derailments, study the dynamic effects of operational changes, examine the effects of current or proposed track geometries on derailment factors, predict ride quality and noise, and calculate the effects of vehicle and wheel conditions under various dynamic factors.

TUV RSI customers that have established a SimVeDyne account are able to upload track data collected by track geometry vehicles or taken by hand to simulate how rolling stock will react to the current state of the track. Results from these simulations may be stored and data displayed online to allow for trending of degrading dynamic behavior over time.

"By using SimVeDyne to model vehicle dynamics over time and under changing conditions, operators will be able to proactively deal with their vehicle and track maintenance issues," Cory Hogan, manager of mechanical research for TUV RSI. "Our customers will be able to use our portal to model their specific vehicles' behavior on their specific track geometries right from their own computer or cell phone."

Users will have the ability to load track geometry from track geometry vehicles or hand measurements; load or select vehicle information and wheel/rail contact data, as well as other factors including speed; and track structure vertical stiffness and features to accurately predict L/V ratios, vertical and lateral wheel loads into the track, accelerations, displacements, passenger ride quality and other user-defined outputs.