Railroad Bearing Dynamic Testers

The UTRGV bearing testing laboratories house four dynamic railroad bearing testers; two four-bearing test rigs, and two single bearing test rigs. These test rigs can accommodate all Association of American Railroad (AAR) tapered-roller bearing classes. The test rigs can simulate train operating velocities of up to 110 mph depending on the pulley size used, and vertical loads of up to 150% of full bearing load as per AAR standards. The two single bearing test rigs are capable of applying vertical, lateral, and impact loads to simulate field operating conditions. One of the two four-bearing testers is enclosed in an environmental chamber in which the ambient temperature can be controlled from -35°F to 150°F. This controlled environmental chamber is the product of a senior design team composed of four mechanical engineering students supervised by one faculty member.