Produkt

The development was accompanied by experts from Railway Undertakings, train and brake component manufacturers within a close cooperation.

The rating method still broadly used in previous programs based on empirical defaults and mean values is no longer capable of coping with future requirements. Here TrainBraC offers new perspectives in brake calculation, particularly for complex modern trainset concepts. It can be used to define a large number of parameters such as time, speed, loading level and much more besides, thus permitting complex, physical vehicle configurations in terms of the braking system. This has been achieved primarily by the development of generic program structures.

Throughout the process, attention has been paid to using algorithms in compliance with the standards. The explicit numerical time step method calculates the solution of the equation of motion regardless of model complexity and even copes with jump functions in a fast, stable and accurate manner.

All inputs and outputs are visualised in clear tree structures. Documentation is automated and can be configured by the user. However all computed results may be exported for subsequent use.

A multilingual approach was consequently followed. In the base installation three languages English, French and German are already implemented. Further languages are planned.

Cooperation between many different areas of the rolling stock branch has resulted in a clearly structured user interface, despite the widely differing and partly complex requirements. Even so, TrainBraC is an expert system and corresponding training is required to ensure efficient, correct use of the software. Nor is the user released from his responsibility for checking the adequacy of his inputs and making the right conclusions from the results of the calculations.

Hardware and software requirements:

• Standard PC, usual in trade
• The following operating systems are supported:
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11

Administrator rights are required for installation.

TrainBraC was developed with respect to the requirements of manufacturers and railway undertakers. Assessors and other experts gave their input to the specifications of TrainBraC too. Therefore TrainBraC represents a large basis of application that, regarding the point of view of the brake designer, fulfills nearly all requirements of the railway sector.

TrainBraC accompanies the braking expert when designing or optimizing the brake system until compliance and acceptance by safety authorities and railway undertakers respectively.

Objective:

TrainBraC shall allow the definition of complex vehicle models without loosing compliance with the world of actual standards. In doing so it is the aim, to substitute the numerous and partially very individual inhouse solutions by a standardized and quality assuring tool. During the development process the main focus has been laid on the minimization of the effort for in- and output of the program in combination with a high quality level of computational results:

• The creation of computation models is carried out strictly generic and follows a consequent logic, which allows fast modelling even with a very complex braking system.
• Program output is fully automated and standardized.
• Accuracy of computational results is assured by large test programs.

The user will be enabled to fully concentrate on modelling the braking physics of the vehicle of interest and on the interpretation of the computed results without wasting time for additional computations and plausibility checks.

In order to achieve further benefit by using TrainBraC it is one of the main targets of the cooperation to spread the software as much as possible and to gain thereby a high level of acceptance among the experts of brake calculation.

License Model

The software will be distributed as a licensed program. Two license modes are available:

1. Mode I: Use of the Software as a Viewer:
   The functionality of the Software is limited. The calculation can be performed if the opened project file was saved by a full version and has not been modified.
2. Mode II: Use of the Software as full version:
   For the unrestricted Use of the TrainBraC a node lock license key is required, i.e. the license is linked to one single computer.

License Provisions

The Terms of Use of the Software are defined in the Software License Agreement which is accessible via the download area.

Technical realisation

The licence key is provided in the form of a digital certificate, which must be installed on the end user device of the licensed user. The certificate is linked to the system's username, a specific version of the software and a time period of validity.

Users can install the software on any number of end user devices. If a maintenance agreement is in place, a new certificate must be installed annually and it will be sent automatically by the sales department of the Licensor. Without a maintenance agreement, the certificate is valid indefinitely within the scope of the licence agreement.

Prices

The non-recurring license fee to be paid depends on the number of licences acquired:

The license fee does not include the training on the software.