Braided carbon composite spaceframe for lightweight railway carriages

摘要

A recyclable and lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) spaceframe for passenger rail carriages has been developed in the UK. Produced as part of the Very Light Rail (VLR) project, the prototype spaceframe comprises a series of braided tubes that can be fitted together easily using adhesives and welding. It has been designed by researchers at WMG at the University of Warwick in Coventry in partnership with braiding specialist Far-UK of Nottingham and Stratford upon Avon-based Transport Design International. The low mass of the prototype would allow electric self-propelled railway carriages of the sort used for short journeys in urban areas to carry more passengers, while reducing the amount of energy needed to propel the vehicle.The design would also reduce the amount of stress the vehicle places on its rails and on road surfaces to which they are fitted.