Advanced Bus Remanufacturing Structural Testing

Advanced Bus Remanufacturing (ABR) is the concept whereby a new body from an Advanced Design Bus is installed on the chassis from a “New Look” bus. This process provides a property the option of updating its fleet of buses at approximately two-thirds the cost of buying new. Testing is required to insure that the combination of the two different structures into the ABR will not shorten the expected service life. A special testing program, designed to reduce the need for expensive and time-consuming endurance testing, is discussed. The three types of tests in this program, static, vibration, and endurance, are described. Two prototype ABR buses are currently undergoing testing. Sample results from the static and vibration tests in this program are presented and discussed.