Modelling of structural flexibility in multibody railroad vehicle systems

This paper presents a review of recent research investigations on the computer modelling of flexible bodies in railroad vehicle systems. The paper will also discuss the influence of the structural flexibility of various components, including the wheelset, the truck frames, tracks, pantograph/catenary systems, and car bodies, on the dynamics of railroad vehicles. While several formulations and computer techniques for modelling structural flexibility are discussed in this paper, a special attention is paid to the floating frame of reference formulation which is widely used and leads to reduced-order finite-element models for flexible bodies by employing component modes synthesis techniques. Other formulations and numerical methods such as semi-analytical approaches, absolute nodal coordinate formulation, finite-segment method, boundary elements method, and discrete elements method are also discussed. This investigation is motivated by the fact that the structural flexibility can have a significant effect on the overall dynamics of railroad vehicles, ride comfort, vibration suppression and noise level reduction, lateral stability, track response to vehicle forces, stress analysis, wheel-rail contact forces, wear and crashworthiness.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1080/00423114.2013.786835
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00423114
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Taylor & Francis
• Authors:
  • Escalona, José L
  • Sugiyama, Hiroyuki
  • Shabana, Ahmed A
• Publication Date: 2013-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1027-1058
• Serial:
  • Vehicle System Dynamics
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis
  • ISSN: 0042-3114
  • EISSN: 1744-5159

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Catenaries (Railroads); Computer models; Flexibility; Pantographs; Railroad tracks; Wheelsets (Railroads)
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01489240
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 30 2013 12:04PM