SIEMENS and TU Graz are developing digital twins for the railway of tomorrow.

Full of power and dynamism, the Railjet high-speed train glides through the Austrian countryside. Traveling at speeds of up to 230 km/h, it takes only 20 minutes to cover the roughly 60 kilometer distance from Vienna to St. Pölten. The juggernaut, weighing several tons, has to defy a wide variety of forces: gravity pulls it downwards, while the locomotive pushes forward with enormous energy. Aerodynamic drag slows down the cars and the rolling of the wheels on the rails creates additional resistance. And then there are the whims of the weather: sometimes the rails brood in the heat, sometimes they freeze in the cold, occasionally the rain lashes against the windows. Again and again, vibrations and centrifugal forces occur as the train travels through bends.

Realistic simulation

The complex interactions of these different forces can be simulated with a digital twin. What's more, a digital twin can replicate the entire system of train, track and environmental conditions in a virtual environment. Engineers can use the computer to identify and eliminate potential weak points and risks at an early stage.

The digital doppelgangers create transparency and help improve the reliability and efficiency of rail traffic. We're working together with Graz University of Technology to realize this pioneering technology for a highly available, reliable rail network....

Read the article here: www.siemens.com/global/en/company/stories/research-technologies/topics/digital-twins-mobility.html