STUDY OF THE OPTIMUM DAMPING REQUIRED BY THE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS OF WAGONS SO AS TO ENABLE THEIR RUNNING, UNDER ANY LOADING CONDITIONS, AT A SPEED OF 80 KM/H ON TRACKS IN AN AVERAGE STATE OF REPAIR

The running of trains in ordinary service at a speed of 80 km/h as of 1970 entails problems especially as regards certain series of existing wagons, which will not have been redeemed in the forthcoming years and which may give rise to difficulties when being run at higher speeds. In the present report of enquiry the measures to be taken in order to improve the riding stability of these latter vehicles are examined. These arrangements concern both the constructional modifications to be made and the adaptation of the damping systems. They should, however, be economic in order that they can rapidly be redeemed. The study shows as regards the two-axled wagons the importance of the ratio between wheelbase and length of the wagon body and, more exactly, between the wheelbase and the radius of gyration in relation to the vertical axis of the centre of gravity. The increase of the wheelbase has shown to be one of the most efficacious measures in order to improve the stability of the wagons having insufficient riding qualities. In the case of bogie wagons, the study gives an account of the damping systems based on friction aiming at an improvement in the behaviour of the vehicles fitted with helical spring suspension systems. Such systems also enable bogies to be visualised capable of being used at speeds up to 120 km/h. The report finally supplies some general indications on the choice of the lines where the tests on vehicles could be undertaken within the frame of studies of a Specialists Committee. These tests should make it possible to guarantee the safety of the running of the modified wagons on all the lines where a speed of 80 km/h is authorized.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Restrictions on the use of this document are contained in the explanatory material.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Union of Railways

  Office of Research and Experiments
  Utrecht,   Netherlands 
• Publication Date: 1962-7

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 49 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axles; Curved track; Damping (Physics); Defects; Dynamics; Freight cars; Friction; High speed rail; High speed vehicles; Hunting (Dynamics); Railroad cars; Railroad tracks; Railroad trains; Safety; Spring; Springs (Vehicles); Stability (Mechanics); Suspensions; Trucks; Vehicle design; Vehicle dynamics; Velocity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lateral dynamics; Vertical dynamics
• Old TRIS Terms: Car design; Helical springs; High speed cars; Question b56; Running stability; Track irregularities
• Subject Areas: Design; Motor Carriers; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00033203
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: B56/RE /E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM