Dynamic analysis and ride quality evaluation of railway vehicles - Numerical simulation and field test verification

Abstract

A rather complete dynamic model with special emphases on nonlinear conicity and creep force and in consideration of random irregularity of rail profile is proposed to simulate the response and investigate the ride quality of railway vehicles. The CP341 vehicle that will soon be used in Taipei Rapid Transit System is considered in particular as the studied role model. Some of the field test data carried out for this type of vehicle are revealed as well and used for the verification of the proposed model. Both simulation and test results show that the resonant frequency of the studied vehicle is in the range of 0.6 - 1 Hz, and the one-third octave root-mean-square acceleration curves of the vehicle in all studied cases meet the ride quality criteria set for the mass rapid transit vehicle systems. It is observed that the secondary suspension of the vehicle has the low frequency filtering property and the primary suspension has high frequency characteristics. A poorer ride quality in vertical direction rather than in lateral direction is also confirmed in the study. It is concluded that the proposed model can be used to simulate the dynamic response and evaluate the ride quality of any railway vehicle.