Test Facilities (1) Vehicle Technologies Rolling Stock Test Plant The rolling stock test plant simulates the conditions of running trains and tracks at a maximum speed of 500km/h. This enables testing of conditions that cannot be tested on actual lines and the investigation of related effects and problems. Break Test Stands The brake performance test stand and the disk brake test stand are utilized in order to develop high performance brake systems in the RTRI. The maximum train velocities tested in these equipments are 500km/h. Wheelset Fatigue-Testing Machine The wheelset fatigue-testing machine, the only one of its kind in Japan, is used for fatigue tests on actual wheelset. The wheelset, which is incorporated into a truck, placed on the rail-wheel and subjected to vertical and lateral loads, is rotated under conditions similar to those found in actual running.
Creep Force Test Apparatus The creep force test apparatus is used to measure the creep force between rolling wheel and rail, that significantly influences the motion of rolling stock. It enables measuring the wheel load and the creep force by using actual axles under the different positions of axles, various speeds and different loading conditions. (2) Structure Technologies Tunnel-Lining-Model Testing Machine The RTRI is implementing model tests (scale 1/5) to develop economical measures against superannuated and deformed tunnels and rational design of newly constructed tunnels. The testing machine simulates the interaction between the ground and tunnel lining and enables three-dimensional tests. Large-Scale Vibration Test Machine This is a large-scale two-dimensional vibration test machine to simulate earthquake motion with a Japan Meteorological Agency s seismic intensity scale of 7, with structure models, actual tracks and trucks. It has an excitation stroke of ±100 cm and maximum load of 50 tons. In addition, it has adopted a floating foundation in consideration of the need to prevent influence on nearby residence.
Station Simulator This is a facility to test passenger flow and thermal/ acoustic environments related to the comfort of passengers. (3) Disaster Prevention Technologies Large-Scale Rainfall Simulator The large-scale rainfall simulator reproduces rain up to an hourly rate of 200mm under conditions similar to actual rainfall. The simulator is used to perform slope failure tests and evaluate the performance of sensors in rain.
(4) Track Technologies Rail Rolling Testing Machine The rail rolling testing machine is used to check the contact rolling fatigue characteristics of rails. This is done by reciprocating the rail under test in a horizontal direction (within 1m) under a vertical load of up to 300kN. Railway Roadbed Testing The railway roadbed testing equipment is used to repeatedly apply simulated train loads on a full-scale roadbed or track. This contributes significantly to the development of new roadbed structures and roadbed improvement work as well as investigation into the mudpumping phenomenon.
(5) Power Supply Technologies Wear Test Machine for Current Collecting Materials for High-Speed Railways The wear test machine for current-collecting materials for high-speed railways is used to test and measure the friction and wear characteristics of pantograph contact strips and contact wire. The tested contact strip, which is pressed to the copper plate on the rotating disk, slides at a maximum speed of 500km/h under an electric current flowing between the contact strip and the simulated contact wire. Current Collection Testing The current collection testing equipment that analyzes the characteristics of the overhead contact line-pantograph system is composed of a 500m-long track and a truck which can run at a maximum speed of 200km/h mounted with a real pantograph. Pantograph Testing The pantograph testing equipment can test any kind of pantograph to evaluate its current collecting performance and the durability up to 300km/h. A rotating wheel with capper bar simulates overhead contact line.
(6) Environment Technologies Super High-Speed Train Model Launching The train and tunnel model testing equipment simulates the pressure fluctuations, lowfrequency noise and other aerodynamic phenomena generated when a high-speed train enters a tunnel. It launches a model train (scale 1/50 to 1/100) at a maximum speed of 500 km/h into a 20 m-long measurement section. (7) Transport Technologies Ride Comfort Simulator The comfort in passenger cars is affected by vibration, noise, temperature, the view from the windows and other environmental factors. To investigate the effect of these factors, the ride comfort simulator comprehensively simulates the environmental factors in and outside passenger cars.