Safety evaluation of railway vehicle against crosswind applying a full-vehicle model

Abstract

In order to analyze the behavior of railway vehicles subjected to crosswinds in more detail, we constructed a simulation program applying a full-vehicle model developed from a half-vehicle model. Using the full-vehicle simulation program, investigations were made into the influence of factors not considered in the half-vehicle model on overturning or wheel unloading ratio. Results revealed that the wheel unloading ratio reaches the maximum value when the yawing moment is zero. It also became apparent that when considering the relationship between the wind speed and the wheel unloading ratio or overturning, the relationship could be appropriately evaluated by using the wheel unloading ratio averaged through the vehicle as an indicator, regardless of the static wheel load imbalance of each axle.