The project has not been present with its own stand, but demonstrators have been displayed in the Shift2Rail/Europe’s rail stand.
Fernando Cunha and Luís Nobre from University of Minho / Fibrenamics has been showing their smart materials. The common feature of the three concepts displayed is measuring deviations through electric currents/resistivity to give status on rail health.
The applications are new types of beams designed for specific locations – warm concrete for switches perfect for winter conditions, a replacement for reinforcement steel that does not rust, and a weight-measuring composite that could replace beams.
What is missing now is a partner to cooperate with to further develop these interesting concepts and take it out in the field.
More thorough information will be posted soon.