MINIMAX OPTIMIZATION OF RAILWAY VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS

The minimax response of a complex dynamic system, such as a railroad vehicle, can be obtained by choosing certain (optimum) values of the stiffness and damping elements in the system. The railway vehicle is mathematically modeled as a linear, stable, strictly dissipative multi-degree of freedom dynamic system. The system is excited at more than one point by synchronous harmonic forces. A minimax principle reduces the problem to that of finite dimensional optimal design problem. Non-linear mathematical programming techniques are used to minimize the non-linear objective function representing the maximum resonant response at a point of the system, and subjected to linear or non-linear constraints, over a certain frequency range. The frequency range may be finite or infinite. Dynamic response of the system before and after optimization is shown, and three-dimensional plots for the constrained and unconstrained objective function versus the two most important design parameters are illustrated.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was contributed by the Rail Transportation Division of the ASME for presentation at the Winter Annual Meeting, 17-22 November 1974, New York, New York.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Mechanical Engineers

  Two Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5990
• Authors:
  • ELMARAGHY, W H
  • Dokainish, M A
  • Siddall, J N
• Publication Date: 1974-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Car trucks (Railroads); Motor vehicle dynamics; Suspension systems; Train track dynamics; Trucks; Vehicle design; Vehicle dynamics; Vehicle performance
• Old TRIS Terms: Car design; Dynamic vehicle performance; Truck behavior
• Subject Areas: Design; Motor Carriers; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00072668
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 74-WA/RT-3
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 9 1976 12:00AM