Researchers load test Ore Line bridges

Malmbanan is Sweden's most heavily trafficked railway with passenger trains, freight trains and ore trains. The line transports ore from Gällivare, Kiruna and Svappavaara mines to the ports of Narvik and Luleå.

There are now plans to allow heavier loads in the wagons of LKAB's ore trains. Therefore, Luleå University of Technology together with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) will conduct a unique test of a full-scale bridge in the university's laboratory.

For three months, a bridge will be monitored with monitoring sensors that have been mounted at strategic points on the train bridge. This makes it possible to track and analyze forces, strains and displacements. The bridge will be subjected to static and dynamic loads at different axle load levels.

"This bridge is a fantastic and unique opportunity to test railway bridges, as there is no similar test facility in Sweden. We will gain better knowledge of how bridges can be loaded and how long they last, so we can plan the right maintenance measures well in advance," says Lars-Olof Andersson, Section Manager for Construction Maintenance at Trafikverket.

The results will be used to see if the Malmbanan bridges can cope with the planned increased loads and how long the bridges can be expected to last.

"The project can save money, carbon dioxide emissions and the environment. By being able to determine more safely and probably further increase the load capacity on Malmbanan, the bridges can be retained for a longer period of time and perhaps being strengthened instead of being replaced with new ones," says Gabriel Sas, Professor and Head of Subject in Structural Engineering at Luleå University of Technology.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com