The gear-case mounting points on an axle mounted locomotive traction motor had suffered severe fatigue damage in service.
A test specification was written proposing a method of determining the cause of failure.
The motor and gear-case were fitted with strain and acceleration instrumentation.
The test train covered its normal service route of over 500 km; 40 data channels of strain, acceleration, displacement and speed were recorded.
The data was analysed and a design modification proposed via a full report and presentation. A sample of motors were reworked incorporating the modifications proposed in the report.
Instrumentation was fitted and a repeated track test carried out. A fatigue analysis of the test data predicted a much improved life in excess of the required 25 years.
