Fire, noise and lightweight materials

REFRESCO investigated how to set the framework for the implementation of new materials in the railway sector through the evolution of certification processes for rolling stock. Such materials have a high potential to reduce the weight of rolling stock compared to the metals currently used. The advantages of composites are already exploited in other sectors, such as aeronautics, where a real revolution has occurred on this matter. REFRESCO generated recommendations and provided the information needed to adapt the regulatory framework of railway carbody structures for the introduction of composite materials. The final conference will cover topics such as strength, crash and fire resistance, noise and vibration Performance and maintainability of the composite materials. The researchers took into account earlier studies from other industries such as aviation, aerospace, automotive and shipping, which already have extensive knowledge of the use of composites.