Analysis of Rail Transit Vehicle Dynamic Curving Performance

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Centerhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15267671984PDFTech ReportWormley, D. N.Hedrick, J. K.Nagurka, M. L.Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited StatesCar trucks (Railroads)Rapid transitRail (Railroads)Mathematical modelsRolling contactVehicle designWearWheelsTire treadsDOT-TSC-UMTA-84-6;UMTA-MA-06-0025-84-1DTRS 57-80C-00152Technical report; Jan 1981-Dec 1983An analytical model is developed for determining the dynamic curving performance of rail transit vehicles. The dynamic wheel/rail interaction forces, vehicle suspension and body motions and track displacement are computed, as well as wheel and rail wear indices. The model incorporates a nonlinear, multi-point contact wheel/rail geometry characterization and is directly applicable to conventional, self-steered radial and forced steered (linkages between the carbody-bolster-wheelsets) truck configurations. A limited set of parametric studies are conducted in which dynamic forces and wear indices for conventional, radial and forced steered tracks are determined for new AAR and Heumann wheel profiles. Available experimental dynamic curving field test data is reviewed in the context of the model.138