CQU researcher Michelle Pearce may be focused on friction in trains but her career pathway is well and truly on the rails.

Mrs Pearce’s enjoyment of her undergraduate engineering degree inspired her to undertake postgraduate studies in mechanical engineering.

In September 2003, Mrs Pearce commenced a Master of Engineering (By Research) at CQU Rockhampton.

The Rail Collaborative Research Centre (Rail CRC) provided the funding for Mrs Pearce’s research scholarship.

She said her mechanical engineering research involves doing computer simulations of train forces.

Through her research Mrs Pearce aims to examine the effect that the centre bowl connection of a train bogie (the connection between the wagon body and wheels) has on the energy used by the train and the wear of the wheels and rail. “By changing the friction, it is hoped to reduce wear and fuel usage,” Mrs Pearce said.

The next milestone to be reached in September is to work out the energy losses and wear on the rail in curves due to high centre bowl friction.

Mrs Pearce said she hoped her degree would be a stepping stone into a career in engineering research rather than engineering industry.

- Story contributed by Marion Thomson.