FLEXIBLE BODY RAILROAD FREIGHT CAR. TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

The objective of this study is to develop a mathematical model of the freight car with a flexible car body, using numerical analysis techniques. Such an analysis will be helpful to understand the dynamic behavior of a freight car better. The model is considered to be consisting of a car body separated into two rigid masses, two bolster, two wheelsets with the side frames. These are joined together by non-linear springs and dampers (Fig. 1). The model will be described in detail in Chapter II. Twenty two degrees of freedom are assumed. Since the car body is assumed to be flexible, it is divided into two, the front and the rear mass. With two constraint equations, twenty coupled simultaneous non-linear differential equations are developed as the equations of motions of this complicated system. The formulating these equations. The equations are uncoupled by tools in the study of the rigid body dynamics, is used in formulating these euqations. The quations are uncoupled by the Gaussian elimination method and integrated by the efficient Runge-Kutta scheme, both of which are standard computer programs. Effects of the system parameters, such as the height of the center-of-gravity of the car body, the truck center distance, suspension and damping can be analyzed with the program.

• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads Research Center

  3140 South Federal Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60616

  Federal Railroad Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Railway Progress Institute

  801 North Fairfax Street
  Alexandria, VA  United States  22314

  Transportation Development Agency Centre

  800 rene-Leveque Boulevard West, Suite 600
  Montreal, Quebec H3B 1X9,   Canada 
• Authors:
  • Tse, Y H
  • Martin, G C
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 122 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Center of gravity; Computer programs; Dynamic tests; Freight cars; Mathematical models; Suspension systems; Train track dynamics; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dynamic analysis
• Old TRIS Terms: Freight car design
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139448
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. R-199
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 26 1976 12:00AM