IEME Brasil held on April 13th, in the Address Hotel convention room, in São Paulo, a meeting of the company’s key employees to align procedures, in accordance with the standards required by the certifications obtained by IEME. The objective of the meeting was to raise awareness among leaders about the need to meet the requirements of the Integrated Management System (ISO 9001, ISO 17020 and ISO 17025), as a way of improving the internal flows of the organization’s management processes, interconnecting the company’s areas based on the quality manuals, procedures, instructions and forms already defined. The meeting dealt with the Certifications of Consulting Engineering and Urban Development (ISO 9001), Accredited Infrastructure Inspection (ISO 17020) and LAEDE (ISO 17025).

The meeting was led by engineer and consultant Octavio Camerini, who has been a specialist in railway engineering (rolling stock) and quality auditing (automotive) for 38 years, having coordinated one of the first ISO 9001 certifications in Brazil. Camerini is also an accredited inspection manager (ISO IEC 17020 standard) for highway and railway projects and a member of the Brazilian Association of Railway Preservation (ABPF). The engineer explained that the meeting meets the obligation for continuous recycling of leaders and employees in the Certified and Accredited Quality Management System.

“The meeting was very participatory and the next steps involve specific meetings with managers and their teams, where the electronic path of the Management System documents will be presented, aiming to better disseminate knowledge of the procedures and their records”, said Camerini. These documents, added the expert, “must be carefully analyzed by the areas, to adapt to the needs and reality of the practices adopted, but complying with the requirements of the standards involved, which represent technical and administrative contractual requirements between IEME, its customers, its suppliers and Inmetro”.

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Photos: IEME

Photos: IEME

Photos: IEME

Photos: IEME

 

 

Safety and optimization of preventive maintenance are priorities for IEME Brasil and LAEDE when it comes to evaluating their customers’ metro rail systems. To achieve this, the company relies on cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, the result of exchanges and monitoring of studies in some of the most advanced technological centers on the subject. One of the resources adopted by IEME for this purpose is the instrumented wheelset calibrator, studied in Italy by the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sapienza in Rome and the Polytechnic of Milan, institutions visited by the company.

But what is the instrumented wheelset calibrator?

“The calibrator is a bench designed to apply existing loads on the permanent track onto an instrumented wheel set with the aim of correlating wheel-rail contact forces and deformations. To this end, electrical resistance strain gauges, hydraulic jacks, actuators and various load cells are used, in addition to a structure capable of supporting such loads”, explains engineer Tiago Juliani, Engineering coordinator at IEME Brasil.

There is a variety of information obtained by the calibrated instrumented wheelset. With the passage of the instrumented wheelset, the wheel-rail contact forces and the L/V relationship (lateral force / vertical force of the wheel) are obtained along the entire path of the train, which may indicate problems both on the permanent track as well as in the rolling stock, such as geometric imperfections in the track, welding defects, failures in railway components, poor maintenance of tracks and wheels, among others. Furthermore, the operational risk of the line is assessed with the L/V ratio.

Therefore, the calibrator is adopted whenever a new measurement campaign is carried out with the instrumented wheelset and, if the same previously instrumented wheelset is used, there has been a certain mileage between one campaign and another.

With the presence of President Santiago Peña and members of his government, including the Minister of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), Claudia Centurión, Paraguay inaugurated last Sunday, 3/3, the emblematic Heroes del Chaco Bridge, a cable-stayed structure that connects the capital, Asunción, to the Chaco’i region. The project dates back to 2013, but construction only began in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, employing around 1,500 workers in the region. Once completed, the work should receive around 10,000 vehicles per day, relieving traffic congestion currently on the Remanso bridge, opened in 1978.

The bridge stretches 603 meters over the Paraguay River and has two pillars of 300 meters each with two sails supported by 23 stays on each side. It is the first bridge with four lanes for vehicle circulation, a pedestrian path and a cycle path. Together with access roads and viaducts, the complex totals 7 kilometers from Costanera Norte to its junction with the Remanso-Puerto Falcón section.

In addition to standing out as a new icon in the landscape of Asunción, the bridge also represents a great leap for Paraguayan engineering and for the companies of the Consórcio Unión, formed by CDD Construcciones and Constructora Heisecke. “This work symbolizes a transcendental step, it is the first bridge built by a Paraguayan company, which knew how to rise to the challenge we face in the country. Today we have absolutely nothing to envy an international company, nothing”, said president Santiago Peña.

IEME Brasil and LAEDE had a small but important participation in the work, by carrying out all static and dynamic tests to assess the safety of the structure and allow it to be opened to traffic. It was the first dynamic test of its kind carried out in Paraguay, a decision that shows the seriousness of the current Paraguayan government in relation to its enterprises and infrastructure projects.

See also on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3LxpzPLSTK/?igsh=azk0YW5nMXV1ZzR3

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Puente Héroes del Chaco – Photo: IEME Brasil

Puente Héroes del Chaco – Photo: IEME Brasil

Puente Héroes del Chaco – Photo: IEME Brasil

Puente Héroes del Chaco – Photo: IEME Brasil

Puente Héroes del Chaco – Photo: BNamericas

Puente Héroes del Chaco – Photo: Creative Commons licenses by-sa 40 Overkill53

IEME / LAEDE technical team installing sensors on the Ponte del Chaco. Photo: Shirley Juliani Reproduction

IEME / LAEDE technical team carrying out the load test on the Ponte del Chaco. Photo: Shirley Juliani Reproduction

IEME / LAEDE technical team installing sensors on the Ponte del Chaco. Photo: Shirley Juliani Reproduction

 

 

The National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro) has just concluded its annual audit and revalidated the status of IEME Brasil Accredited Inspection Body (OIA), obtained at the beginning of 2023 and now renewed. The revalidation ensures IEME’s compliance with the requirements of the International Accredited Inspection Standard ISO 17020, ordinances from Inmetro and inspection agencies (such as ANTT and Artesp), Inmetro procedures and technical standards applicable to road infrastructure projects. Accreditation is based on a double audit system: an auditor independent of the organization and Inmetro itself.

According to railway and automotive engineer Octavio Camerini, management systems auditor for over 25 years and advisor to the company in the technical revalidation process, the accreditation was confirmed for the scope of inspection of highway and railway projects and works, without the need for authorization from Inmetro to issue inspection certificates. “For the scope of inspection of highway and railway works, it is necessary to involve Inmetro for sample technical monitoring of initial inspections, before issuing the respective certificates, which is part of the normal accreditation process”, he explained. According to him, Inmetro praised IEME’s technical and administrative competence in the accredited inspection of infrastructure projects and made few recommendations for improvement, focused on the management system.

For the specialist, this official and international recognition demonstrates that “IEME follows the most demanding and contemporary requirements of technical and administrative competence for Inspection Bodies of Projects and Works of Highways and Railways, guaranteeing the technical conformity of the project or infrastructure work , its budget forecast and its schedule”.

The most developed countries in the world have already been working with Accredited Inspection for 10 years, guaranteeing the impartial evaluation of the project or work and contributing to the agility and compliance of the implementation of mobility infrastructure in the country. The accreditation obtained by IEME recognizes not only the implementation of ISO 17020 and Inmetro requirements, but also the concessionaires’ procedures, which are gradually demanding compliance with acceptable standards of corporate governance (transparency and anti-corruption practices), social responsibility (inclusiveness) and environmental responsibility (prevention of environmental impacts of the project and infrastructure work).

Versatility and security

Elastomers are polymeric materials with viscoelastic properties, which means they can be stretched and deformed under tension and then return to their original shape when the tension is removed. This unique ability makes these materials extremely versatile and valuable across multiple industries.

In the context of civil and railway construction, elastomers play a crucial role. They are used in large works and railway systems for a series of applications, ranging from shock absorption to vibration isolation. These properties are fundamental to ensuring the safety and adequate performance of structures and systems.

However, to ensure that these elastomers meet the necessary quality and performance standards, it is essential to carry out a series of rigorous tests defined by international Technical Standards. This is where LAEDE – Acoustics and Dynamic and Static Testing Laboratory comes in.

LAEDE, part of IEME Brasil, has extensive experience in high-capacity static and dynamic mechanical testing, which plays a key role in the evaluation and certification of elastomers used in a variety of applications.

The tests carried out by LAEDE include the evaluation of the mechanical and performance properties of materials. This includes quasi-static tests of vertical and shear stiffness, dynamic tests of free and forced vibration, permanent loading, fatigue (mechanical aging) and obtaining the damping coefficient. Additionally, the laboratory is capable of reproducing specific conditions in greenhouse and water environments, which is crucial for testing elastomers in real-world conditions.

The importance of these tests cannot be underestimated. They ensure that elastomers function as expected, providing the necessary shock absorption, vibration isolation and flexibility in various applications. This rigorous assessment also helps identify any wear or degradation over time, ensuring the safety and durability of these materials.

LAEDE is part of the Brazilian Network of Testing Laboratories (RBLE) and is a laboratory accredited by Cgcre in accordance with ABNT NBR ISO/IEC 17025. This means that the tests meet the highest standards of quality and technical competence. Therefore, when choosing LAEDE to carry out these tests, you can be confident that you are working with experienced and certified professionals.

See more on the LAEDE website.

Accessibility for people with special needs (public and employees), as well as meeting the basic needs of comfort and safety of employees (in compliance with the NR-24 standard), is one of the focuses of an important contract between IEME Brasil and CPTM (Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos) for the refurbishment of 11 of the company’s stations.

Initiated in April 2018, the contract for specialized engineering and architecture technical services aims at the elaboration of the executive project for the adaptation of the stations and complete renovations, which include electrical, hydraulic and systems installations, intended to comply with the Fire Department Inspection Report (AVCB).

The work covers the following stations: Mooca, Ipiranga, São Caetano, Utinga, Prefeito Saladino, Santo André, Capuava, Mauá, Guapituba, Ribeirão Pires and Rio Grande da Serra.

So far, the complete executive projects for the renovation and adaptation of Capuava, Prefeito Saladino, São Caetano and Utinga stations have been completed, which have already been tendered and built. Tenders for the construction of the Santo André and Mauá stations are in progress. The executive projects for the other stations had different stages of development, but were interrupted by the client’s decision.

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IEME Brasil started a new contract with the São Paulo Municipal Housing Secretariat (SEHAB) to provide specialized services in the area of urban development. It is worth remembering that the previous work with SEHAB extended from 2012 to 2019 and benefited 82,056 families.

In that project, IEME was a pioneer in carrying out the registration of families using the municipal system Habisp and HabitaSampa. The work was carried out in all regions of the city of São Paulo and with different types of housing (slums, irregular subdivisions, housing complexes, tenements, etc.). In the final line of the process, after thousands of individual analyses, there was the delivery of property titles to eligible families that irregularly inhabited the mapped places.

The work involved architects, in the survey of each house (state, area, finishes, etc.), social workers, who collected documents and registered the families (number of residents in each unit, income, children and school attendance), and lawyers, who carried out the screening and analysis to categorize the situations encountered. With this information in hand, the city hall assigned property titles to those who were able to do so.

Before land regularization, families were afraid that someone would invade the house, because they did not have a property title. “Once they receive the title, everything changes. Life becomes more peaceful and they even invest in the conservation of the property. It is very exciting to see that, in some way, we are contributing to improving people’s quality of life”, says Liana Becocci, director of IEME Brasil.

Exactly 10 years ago (May 2013) IEME Brasil evaluated, using a forced vibration test, the safety of the stands at Neo Química Arena, the Corinthians stadium that hosted the opening of the 2014 World Cup.

With the help of Vibrodina, mechanical generating equipment that simulates the movement of fans, IEME’s technical team evaluated the dynamic behavior of the structure, to ensure the necessary safety and comfort to receive the fans. About a month after its inauguration, on June 12, the stadium hosted the opening of the World Cup, with Brazil’s 3-1 victory over Croatia.

During the six World Cup games, Arena Corinthians received around 360,000 spectators. The last match set the stadium’s attendance record, which at the time had provisional stands: 63,267 paying for Argentina vs. the Netherlands.

IEME Brasil was contracted for the job by Odebrecht, which is responsible for the Arena Corinthians works. The same technology had been used in large Italian stadiums, such as San Siro, in Milan, and Olímpico, in Rome.

Read more at:

🌐  https://iemebrasil.com.br/en/world-cup-2014/

Technicians from IEME Brasil and LAEDE are in the field to carry out detailed inspection services in 16 special works of art (bridges or viaducts) and 7 tunnels of the Structural Integrity Management subordinated to the Directorate of Base Metals Atlântico Sul, of Vale, in Parauapebas (PA). The OAE and tunnels are located in the territories of Mineração Onça Puma, Mina do Salobo, Mina do Sossego and Porto São Luiz, in the States of Pará and Maranhão.

The contract began in August 2022 and is expected to end in September 2024. IEME estimates that approximately 30% of the service has already been completed.

Detailed inspection services for OAE and tunnels follow ABNT NBR 9452 – Inspection of Bridges, Viaducts, Concrete Walkways – Procedures and include the following tests:

• Verification of corrosion potential
• Checking the electrical resistivity of concrete
• Sclerometry (NBR-7584) – By tested area
• Chloride ion content
• Sulphate content
• RAA (Alkali Aggregate Reaction)
• Weld penetrant liquid
• Ultrasound
• Infrared thermography
• Pacometry
• Concrete permeability
• Concrete strength – core extraction
• Extensometry test
• Mapping with aerometry (drone)
• Mapping using 3D scanning

The inspection results in detailed reports containing all the reports of the technological tests carried out, informing the state of conservation and any pathologies identified, reporting points of improvement, drawings with the repairs to be made, if the inspection defines it, and the classification grade of each asset , as required by the standard.

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Carrying out the load test on the Itacaiúnas Bridge, using loaded trucks

Top and bottom view of the Itacaiúnas Bridge

Extraction of the specimen with the CP extracted