Safety and optimization of preventive maintenance are priorities for IEME Brasil and LAEDE when it comes to evaluating their customers’ metro rail systems. To achieve this, the company relies on cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, the result of exchanges and monitoring of studies in some of the most advanced technological centers on the subject. One of the resources adopted by IEME for this purpose is the instrumented wheelset calibrator, studied in Italy by the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sapienza in Rome and the Polytechnic of Milan, institutions visited by the company.

But what is the instrumented wheelset calibrator?

“The calibrator is a bench designed to apply existing loads on the permanent track onto an instrumented wheel set with the aim of correlating wheel-rail contact forces and deformations. To this end, electrical resistance strain gauges, hydraulic jacks, actuators and various load cells are used, in addition to a structure capable of supporting such loads”, explains engineer Tiago Juliani, Engineering coordinator at IEME Brasil.

There is a variety of information obtained by the calibrated instrumented wheelset. With the passage of the instrumented wheelset, the wheel-rail contact forces and the L/V relationship (lateral force / vertical force of the wheel) are obtained along the entire path of the train, which may indicate problems both on the permanent track as well as in the rolling stock, such as geometric imperfections in the track, welding defects, failures in railway components, poor maintenance of tracks and wheels, among others. Furthermore, the operational risk of the line is assessed with the L/V ratio.

Therefore, the calibrator is adopted whenever a new measurement campaign is carried out with the instrumented wheelset and, if the same previously instrumented wheelset is used, there has been a certain mileage between one campaign and another.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, an American rock band, performed on 10/11 a show at the Morumbi stadium, part of their world tour “Global Stadium Tour”. The historic performance featured the return of guitarist John Frusciante, a classic member who returned to play with the band in 2019, after 10 years in other projects.

IEME Brasil monitored the stadium during the show, using sensors to measure the deformation of the structure, subjected to dynamic loads, such as those generated by the public at music shows or football matches.

São Paulo Futebol Clube (SPFC) and IEME Brasil have a long partnership in monitoring the Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium. The monitoring provides important information about the structure and guarantees the safety and comfort of users, such as those who attended the show on 10/11 and other artistic and sporting events.

It is worth remembering that public agitation generates vibrations in the structure that can exceed the limits allowed in technical standards and generate panic, accidents and even structural collapse. The objective of regular monitoring is to avoid these situations with preventive measures and also to monitor the structure’s behavior in real time.

Monitoring also helps SPFC to optimize the necessary maintenance of the stadium, avoiding greater expenses with possible structural restoration works.

Congratulations to the SPFC Board of Directors, who through their care and responsibility ensure that their events take place safely.

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Technicians from IEME Brasil and LAEDE are in the field to carry out detailed inspection services in 16 special works of art (bridges or viaducts) and 7 tunnels of the Structural Integrity Management subordinated to the Directorate of Base Metals Atlântico Sul, of Vale, in Parauapebas (PA). The OAE and tunnels are located in the territories of Mineração Onça Puma, Mina do Salobo, Mina do Sossego and Porto São Luiz, in the States of Pará and Maranhão.

The contract began in August 2022 and is expected to end in September 2024. IEME estimates that approximately 30% of the service has already been completed.

Detailed inspection services for OAE and tunnels follow ABNT NBR 9452 – Inspection of Bridges, Viaducts, Concrete Walkways – Procedures and include the following tests:

• Verification of corrosion potential
• Checking the electrical resistivity of concrete
• Sclerometry (NBR-7584) – By tested area
• Chloride ion content
• Sulphate content
• RAA (Alkali Aggregate Reaction)
• Weld penetrant liquid
• Ultrasound
• Infrared thermography
• Pacometry
• Concrete permeability
• Concrete strength – core extraction
• Extensometry test
• Mapping with aerometry (drone)
• Mapping using 3D scanning

The inspection results in detailed reports containing all the reports of the technological tests carried out, informing the state of conservation and any pathologies identified, reporting points of improvement, drawings with the repairs to be made, if the inspection defines it, and the classification grade of each asset , as required by the standard.

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Carrying out the load test on the Itacaiúnas Bridge, using loaded trucks

Top and bottom view of the Itacaiúnas Bridge

Extraction of the specimen with the CP extracted

 

 

The British band Coldplay closed on Saturday, 18/3, the cycle of six shows in São Paulo, part of the world tour “Music of the Spheres” that celebrates the last album of the group. For the safety of the musicians and thousands of fans who attended the concert, the Morumbi stadium was being monitored by IEME Brasil, which installed sensors to measure the deformation of the structure subjected to dynamic loads, such as those generated by the public jumping in music shows or in matches. of football. These measurements provide a number of important pieces of information about the structure.

Stadiums that are constantly monitored and receive regular maintenance, as is the case of Estádio Cicero Pompeu de Toledo (São Paulo Futebol Clube – SPFC stadium), are very safe. Unfortunately, most Brazilian stadiums do not have this concern. The problem can arise when the structure enters into resonance, that is, the frequency of the dynamic load coincides with the natural frequency of the structure. In these cases, vibrations can exceed the limits allowed in technical standards and cause public panic, accidents and even the collapse of the structure.

SPFC, always concerned with ensuring the safety and comfort of its public, once again hired IEME Brasil to monitor the structure of the stadium. This time the event was the Coldplay concert. Congratulations to the SPFC staff for their care and responsibility.

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