Laboratory Testing

Corus Rail Technologies are based at one of Corus Research Development & Technology’s sites where there is a wide range of state-of-the-art testing facilities for mechanical, chemical, metallurgical and welding research including:

• Metallurgical testing - sample preparation facilities (saws, cut-off wheels, linishing facilities, grinding and polishing, etching), optical micrography and macrography, hardness testing (Brinell, Vickers, Micro hardness), sulphur printing, scanning electron microscopy with associated EDAX analysis
• Mechanical testing - 22 servo-hydraulic fatigue/fracture machines with load capacities from 25 kN - 2000 kN, 4 electro-magnetic resonant fatigue machines with load capacities from 20 - 150 kN, 6 m x 7 m Strongfloor with a range of servo hydraulic actuators and data-logging equipment for structural testing (quasi-static and fatigue). Tensile testing to BSEN10001-2. Twin disc testing for wear and rolling contact fatigue simulation
• Enviro-mechanical testing - 8 servo-hydraulic fatigue/fracture machines with 50 kN load capacity, 2 x 50 kN load capacity servo-hydraulic Low Cycle Fatigue machines, systems for conducting fatigue/fracture tests in a wide range of liquid and high pressure gas (e.g. hydrogen) environments

Corus is able to conduct a range of standard laboratory tests to international standards, as well as being able to design and build bespoke test arrangements. In this way, customers are provided with independent certification of the performance of safety-critical railway components. Laboratory testing is also used to investigate the performance of worn components to verify inspection and maintenance standards, and to fine-tune the standards where appropriate.