Course Details in 2021/22 Session

Module Title	Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Interactions
School	School of Engineering
Department	Civil Engineering
Module Code	04 26310
Module Lead	Charles Watson
Level	Masters Level
Credits	10
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	Students with a good degree in an engineering or related numerate discipline or holding equivalent professional experience
Exclusions
Description	The infrastructure portion of this module is designed to give students an in-depth technical knowledge of the rolling stock and infrastructure systems and an understanding of how to design and maintain them in order to minimise risk and maximise safety. Railway alignment design, gauging, and maintenance issues are discussed in detail, as are issues relating to the rolling contact behaviour of the wheel-rail interface and to rail vehicle dynamics, including the steering of wheelsets. Aerodynamics, body-shell design and crashworthiness issues, choice of materials, vehicle maintenance, and the design and behaviour suspensions are covered in some detail. Also addressed are the topics of station design, station systems and infrastructure power supply components. The module is managed by the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Birmingham, with inputs and guest speakers from the railway industry.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Develop awareness of safety and risk management issues for maintenance of infrastructure and rolling stock; Understand the human factors issues for ensuring safe operation of rolling stock and infrastructure; Describe in detail the processes occurring at the wheel-rail interface and in the contact patch; Understand the processes involved in steering and supporting vehicles on rails; Understand the kinematics of vehicles and assess their dynamic stability; Handle questions relating to the fatigue and crashworthiness of vehicle structures; Understand the processes involved in creating a new railway or enhancing an existing railway; Assess critically the provision of structures and tracks that provide the specified load carrying capability and ride quality; Ensure that the design of the railway allows it to operate safely at the specified speeds while the costs for infrastructure construction and main¬tenance remain within budgetary limits; Take informed decisions regarding the choice of track systems and tunnelling methods.
Assessment	26310-10 : Module Mark : Mixed (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Open assessment (60%); 2 questions within the end of year written exam (25%); Clinic Exams (15%) Reassessment of the module is by the submission of a rewrite of the open assessment paper, highlighting elements that have been updated. The candidate must achieve a mark of 50% and hold a 10 minute discussion of the paper with the assessor.
Other	None
Reading List