Abstract: A side beam of a railway vehicle bogie frame in which two such side beams define respective lateral sides of the bogie frame in relation to a longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle and a crossbeam extends over a transverse direction of the railway vehicle to join the side beams, the bogie frame being configured to carry, in use, front and rear wheelsets. The side beam is formed of discrete structural members comprising an elongate centre plate which extends between first and second end portions thereof in the longitudinal direction between positions occupied, in use, by the wheelsets, a thickness direction of the centre plate being parallel to the transverse direction, and first and second suspension mounts configured for mounting wheelset suspension elements thereto.

Abstract: A bolster structure is capable of securing a prescribed space between a bolster and an underframe, maintaining the rigidity of the bolster structure, and reducing its weight and cost. The bolster structure is provided on an underframe constituting a floor of a railroad vehicle, and is formed by joining a plurality of shaped members having a multi-layer structure in which a width direction of the structure body is an extrusion direction. The plurality of shaped members include: shaped members 15B and 15C having a region in which a part of layers on an underframe side is notched at a center of the structure body in the width direction; and shaped members including a fastening portion formed by notching a part of layers at both ends of the structure body in the width direction. A side beam of the underframe is fixed by the fastening portion.

Abstract: A rail vehicle including an underframe that contributes to improvement in assembly and that is light in weight and high in rigidity is provided. The rail vehicle includes an underframe including a floor body structure that forms a floor surface and a bolster. The bolster includes a first shape member arranged at a middle portion of the bolster, at least part of the first shape member being formed by extrusion along a widthwise direction of the floor body structure, a second shape member connected to each of opposite end portions of the first shape member in the widthwise direction of the floor body structure, at least part of the second shape member being formed by extrusion along a lengthwise direction of the floor body structure, and a plate-shaped member connected to a side beam and connected to the second shape member.

Abstract: A bogie frame for a railway vehicle, the bogie frame including structural members defining the frame, and one or more reinforcing components joining the structural members, the or each reinforcing component including: a first fibre-reinforced plastic layer having spaced first and second end portions, the first end portion attaching to a first structural member of the bogie frame, and the second end portion attaching to a second structural member of the bogie frame, wherein the first and second structural members are also joined together by one or more fastening bolts; and a second fibre-reinforced plastic layer disposed on a mid part of the first fibre-reinforced plastic layer between its first and second end portions such that the first and second end portions are left uncovered by the second fibre-reinforced plastic layer, wherein a central portion of the reinforcing component that is stronger than the first and second end portions.

Abstract: A wall structure for forming a wall of a rail vehicle car body, the wall structure comprising a metal panel having an aperture formed therein; and a fibre-reinforced-plastic (FRP) strengthening system attached to the metal panel at a corner of the aperture. The FRP strengthening system comprises a stack of FRP laminae arranged such that, progressing through the stack starting from a base lamina, the area of each lamina in the stack is less than that of the previous lamina.

Abstract: A bolster structure is capable of securing a prescribed space between a bolster and an underframe, maintaining the rigidity of the bolster structure, and reducing its weight and cost. The bolster structure is provided on an underframe constituting a floor of a railroad vehicle, and is formed by joining a plurality of shaped members having a multi-layer structure in which a width direction of the structure body is an extrusion direction. The plurality of shaped members include: shaped members 15B and 15C having a region in which a part of layers on an underframe side is notched at a center of the structure body in the width direction; and shaped members including a fastening portion formed by notching a part of layers at both ends of the structure body in the width direction. A side beam of the underframe is fixed by the fastening portion.

Abstract: A rail vehicle including an underframe that contributes to improvement in assembly and that is light in weight and high in rigidity is provided. The rail vehicle includes an underframe including a floor body structure that forms a floor surface and a bolster. The bolster includes a first shape member arranged at a middle portion of the bolster, at least part of the first shape member being formed by extrusion along a widthwise direction of the floor body structure, a second shape member connected to each of opposite end portions of the first shape member in the widthwise direction of the floor body structure, at least part of the second shape member being formed by extrusion along a lengthwise direction of the floor body structure, and a plate-shaped member connected to a side beam and connected to the second shape member.

Abstract: Provided is an FRP optimization system capable of efficiently determining the most suitable FRP specs for improving the reliability of an entire mechanical structure and its joints.