Results at JVTC

Luleå University of Technology is one of the few universities in the world that currently offers education and research in operation and maintenance technology. Järnvägstekniskt Centrum (JVTC) is a strategic competence center for the transport sector, which conducts research and development with a focus on streamlining the operation and maintenance of the entire railway system.

With its applied research, JVTC has delivered results that have already benefited industry and the public sector before the research was completed.

JVTC's ability, research results and knowledge have also been in demand internationally, including from Finland, Norway, Iran, India, the United Kingdom, France, UIC and Australia with regard to:

• Innovations and methods in condition-based maintenance.
• Effects of heavy rail transport (25 and 30 tons axle load) and of cold climate.
• Methods for calculating life cycle costs for the entire transportation system based on RAMS criteria, which stand for reliability, maintainability and safety.
• Vehicle classification and maintenance levels as a basis for new traffic charges.
• Methods for information transfer within maintenance and between railway parties (eMaintenance).
• Winter investigations, root causes of malfunctions on railway facilities, caused by cold climate.
• Upgrading the transport flow (weight, length, speed) on railways, technically, economically and in terms of maintenance.

The research results generated at the JVTC in the field of condition-based maintenance allow the measurement of different operating conditions and their effects on the degradation rate of vehicles and track (infrastructure). They can already be used today for maintenance planning or to monitor and assess possible traffic changes during an operation and maintenance contract. The methods can also be used to accelerate the introduction of new innovations and products and provide a basis for increasing capacity through changes in maintenance and allocation of maintenance/operating costs between operators and infrastructure.

Scientific contributions from the JVTC include projects such as Heavy Transport in Cold Climates, Sustainable Bridges, Degradation Cost of Track (DeCo Track), Rail Lubrication, Link & Effect and a Rail Testbed. Through JVTC's unique collaboration model with the industry, an investment of 1 research crown in JVTC from the Swedish Transport Administration, an increase with other industry members, provides a knowledge benefit of SEK 5-8 in the form of new national knowledge for the transport sector. Through JVTC's participation in EU projects, the Swedish Transport Administration leverages each research krona by a factor of 50-60 times, in the form of national return of new knowledge benefits. Through a long-term investment in JVTC, an organized development and research platform for industry collaboration is obtained with JVTC members who actively contribute to an increase in investments. JVTC currently participates in several EU projects. Furthermore, these EU projects provide a basis for attracting future international financiers.

LTU and JVTC train specialists with deep maintenance skills. These specialists enter the labor market after completing their studies at LTU and often take employment with the Swedish Transport Administration and other players in the industry, but also specialists who remain at LTU but offer their skills on a project basis.

Innovations

DigiSwitch

An innovation that uses artificial intelligence which, with self-learning algorithms and pattern recognition, analyses condition data in the form of vibration measurements to find flaws in switches before something breaks.

A patent application for DigiSwitch has been submitted to the Swedish Patent and Registration Office. It is a completely new method that enables automatic condition control and analysis of wear in switches, damage to train wheels, track alignment errors and whether there is a risk of accidents due to so-called broken switches. This innovation, an IT solution, uses artificial intelligence which, with self-learning algorithms and pattern recognition, analyses condition monitoring data in the form of vibration measurements to find flaws in systems before something breaks. Sensors detect the vibrations in the rails. Tests show very positive results that our invention has the ability to predict wheel damage as well as wear and tear and other damage everywhere in the railroad switch.

Researchers: Professor Jan Lundberg and Dr. Taoufik Najeh, Operations and Maintenance Engineering at Luleå University of Technology.

Transition zone for railway

The innovation aims to reduce damage to railways and railway vehicles due to sudden changes in the stiffness of the substrate.

This device aims to reduce damages on rail and rail vehicles because of sudden stiffness changes in the ground between ballasted and not ballasted rails. The design should be possible to tamp and will gradually increase the stiffness inside the transition zone, in order to reduced forces due to sudden impacts, se figure below.

Researcher: Jan Lundberg

Transition zone Cross type for railway

This innovation aims to reduce damage to railways and railway vehicles due to sudden changes in soil stiffness.

Researcher: Jan Lundberg

New concept for switches

New concept for switches that takes into account possible root causes of failure in the behaviour of the switch.

Jan Lundberg has in a project funded by Trafikverket developed a new concept for switches. Four different approaches take care of a variety of possible basic failure causes regarding the behaviour of the switch, resulting in 14 new turnout concepts and 7 new concepts for mechanical setting mode. Some of the new concepts are based on requests for modular thinking. The most promising concept is based on a rigid modular system consisting of steel sleepers and a steel truss.

Sponsor: Trafikverket
Researcher: Jan Lundberg

Wear constant measurement apparatus for computer simulation of rail and wheel wear

A brand new compact handheld measuring device that can measure both friction and wear in real time directly on the rail in the field in an unusually simple way.

See our website for this innovation.

Researcher: Jan Lundberg

ReRail

The ReRail tread is about 10 mm thick and is fitted around the head of the original rail, which is milled down when worn and adapted to the internal shape of the ReRail.

The ReRail project has been sponsored by VINNOVA and is engaged in developing an innovative concept to extend the life of existing worn rails. The outcome of the project will help transport companies to meet the CO2 emissions target. The innovator is Anders Sundgren, owner of Rerail AB. ReRail consists of a roll of modern hardened steel, which forms a wear surface. The hardened steel in ReRail is almost twice as hard as ordinary rail steel. The ReRail tread is about 10 mm thick and is fitted around the head of the original rail, which is milled down when worn out and adapted to the internal shape of the ReRail. ReRail was accepted in 2015 as an ePilot project where the rail was tested in an operational environment.

Sponsor: Vinnova
Researcher: Anders Sundgren

Thesis

2024

Jaya Kumari, doctoral thesis

2023

Yang Zou External link, opens in new window., doctoral thesis

Mahdi Khosravi External link, opens in new window., doctoral thesis

2022

Veronica Jägare External link., doctoral thesis

Antonio Galvez, doctoral thesis

Yang Zou External link., licentiate thesis

Amit Patwardhan External link., licentiate thesis

Jaya Kumari External link., licentiate thesis

Praneeth Chandran External link., doctoral thesis

2021

Rayendra Anandika External link., doctoral thesis

Hamid Khajehei External link., doctoral thesis

2020

Ravdeep Kour, External link. doctoral thesis

Prasanna Illankoon External link., doctoral thesis

Mahdie Sedghi External link., licentiate thesis

2019

Iman Soleimanmeigouni External link.​, doctoral thesis

Saad Ahmed Khan External link., doctoral thesis

2018

Juhamatti Saari External link., doctoral thesis

Madhav Mishra External link., doctoral thesis

2017

Anna Malou Petersson External link., doctoral thesis

Levis Zhang External link., doctoral thesis

2016

Mustafa Aljumaili External link., doctoral thesis

Matthias Asplund External link., doctoral thesis

Yamur Aldouri External link., licentiate thesis

Per Norrbin External link., licentiate thesis

Jens Häggström External link., licentiate thesis

2015

Stephen Mayowa Famurewa, doctoral thesis

Amparo Morant, doctoral thesis

Yasser Mahmood External link., doctoral thesis

Jonny Nilimaa External link., doctoral thesis

Levis Zhang External link., licentiate thesis

2014

Christer Stenström External link., doctoral thesis

Matthias Asplund External link., licentiate thesis

Mikael Palo External link., doctoral thesis

Amparo Morant External link., licentiate thesis

2013

Iman Arasteh Khouy External link., doctoral thesis

Andreas Eitzenberger External link., doctoral thesis

Stephen Famurewa External link., licentiate thesis

Jonny Nilimaa External link., licantiate thesis

2012

Christer Stenström External link., licantiate thesis

2011

Mikael Palo External link., licentiate thesis

Iman Arasteh Khouy External link., licentiate thesis

Yuan Fuqing External link., doctoral thesis

2009

Arne Nissen External link., doctoral thesis

Ambika Patra External link., doctoral thesis

2008

Thomas Åhrén External link., doctoral thesis

Rikard Granström External link., doctoral thesis

Ramin Karim External link., doctoral thesis

Saurabh Kumar External link., doctoral thesis

Birre Nyström External link., doctoral thesis

Stefan Niska External link., doctoral thesis

2007

Ulla Espling External link., doctoral thesis

Robert Lagnebäck External link., licentiate thesis

2006

Aditya Parida External link., doctoral thesis

Mattias Holmgren External link., doctoral thesis

Patrik Waara External link., doctoral thesis

2005

Peter Söderholm External link., doctoral thesis

2001

Ansel Berghuvud External link., doctoral thesis

2000

Patric Waara, licentiate thesis

1999

Ansel Berghuvud External link., licentiate thesis

Spin-off companies

A number of spin-off companies have been created as a result of research conducted at JVTC.

Omicold AB External link.
Consulting services in railway management and O&M

Predge AB External link.
Enabling sustainable O&M in the railway industry, by providing advanced analytical services for decision support.