REVIEW AND SUMMARY OF COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE DYNAMICS

To assess the state of development of computer programs which apply to the dynamics of rail vehicles, reviews were prepared of programs in six different categories: lateral stability, curving dynamics, wheel/rail contact, freight vehicle dynamics, analog hybrid simulation, and train dynamics. In addition, a number of European programs were summarized. A survey of users of the programs was also undertaken. The great majority of available programs are not widely used; some were developed for specific purposes and are not suitable for general use. The three programs which are most frequently applied are Train Operations Simulator (TOS); Quasi-Static Lateral Stability Model (QSLTS), and Nonlinear Flexible Car Body Vehicle Model (FVEH). These codes appear to be the best choices for further improvement and verification. Other areas in which users believe computer programs could be profitably employed are wear, fatigue, fracture, inelastic behavior, and impact. The principal drawback in applying existing codes seems to be the difficulty in obtaining accurate input data, such as damping constants, moments of inertia, stiffnesses, and locations of mass centers.

• Record URL:
  https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/review-and-summary-computer-programs-railway-vehicle-dynamics
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Virginia, Charlottesville

  Center for Transportation Studies, P.O. Box 400742
  Charlottesville, VA  United States  22904-4742

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Pilkey, W D
• Publication Date: 1981-2

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 129 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Freight cars; Mathematical models; Rail (Railroads); Rolling contact; Steering; Train track dynamics; Vehicle dynamics; Wheels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lateral stability
• Old TRIS Terms: Freight car dynamics
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00341260
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA/ORD-81/17 Final Rpt., UVA-529162-MAE80-101
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FR-8076
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 15 1981 12:00AM