Skip to main content
European Commission logo
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary

Enhanced INterfaces and train categories FOR dynamic compatibility assessment of EUropean railway BRIDGEs

Project description

Enhanced method for European railway bridge assessment

The shift to sustainable transportation is a top priority of the European Green Deal, with railways playing a crucial role. However, improving the resilience and capacity of the rail network, particularly in relation to critical structures such as bridges, is essential. The INF TSI, which includes train categories, compatibility checks, and bridge design limits, still faces unresolved issues. The EU-funded InBridge4EU project aims to develop a standardised method for assessing the interaction between railway bridges and rolling stock across Europe. The project will provide guidance on European railway bridge dynamics standards and evaluate the potential economic impacts of revising them. It will employ advanced numerical modelling, dynamic analyses, and compile extensive databases on bridges and rolling stock. I

Objective

The shift to more sustainable mobility systems is one of the major priorities to accomplish the goals established by the European Green Deal to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050. Railways plays a crucial role in this regard, but it is essential to enhance the current resilience and capacity of the network, in particular from lifeline structures, such as bridges.
Within this regard, several open points affecting the current INF TSI and described in the ERA Technical Note are yet to be closed, namely those related to the Dynamic Train Categories previously specified in EN15228:2015 and the limits of validity of the static compatibility checks currently stipulated EN15228:2021, the accuracy of the current dynamic amplification factors and damping values for railway bridges proposed in EN1991 2 (2003) and the validity of the deck acceleration limits imposed by EN1990-Annex A2 (2005) in both new and existing bridges.
InBridge4EU aims to answer these points through the formulation of an enhanced and harmonized method to assess the European dynamic interface between railway bridges and rolling stock. The outcomes of this project will provide solid background to the guidance being drafted within the CEN/TC250/SC1 special group DIBRST for dynamics of bridges. Finally, as a consequence, the economic outcomes of changing any of the aforementioned criteria/parameters/methodologies in the current European railway bridge landscape will be carefully assessed. All the research carried out in InBridge4EU will converge on recommendations to ERA and CEN for revising and updating the current version of the TSIs and Eurocodes. Advanced numerical modelling and dynamic analyses of both bridge and railway vehicles, together with the development of extensive databases of bridge and rolling stock data obtained from the different partners of the consortium, will contribute to the successful achievement of the project’s objectives.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
Net EU contribution
€ 142 513,89
Address
PRACA GOMES TEIXEIRA
4099-002 Porto
Portugal

See on map

Region
Continente Norte Área Metropolitana do Porto
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (9)

Partners (1)