Dynamic analysis of a high-speed train operating on a curved track with failed fasteners

Abstract

Abstract:A high-speed train-track coupling dynamic model is used to investigate the dynamic behavior of a high-speed train operating on a curved track with failed fasteners. The model considers a high-speed train consisting of eight vehicles coupled with a ballasted track. The vehicle is modeled as a multi-body system, and the rail is modeled with a Timoshenko beam resting on the discrete sleepers. The vehicle model considers the effect of the end connections of the neighboring vehicles on the dynamic behavior. The track model takes into account the lateral, vertical, and torsional deformations of the rails and the effect of the discrete sleeper support on the coupling dynamics of the vehicles and the track. The sleepers are assumed to move backward at a constant speed to simulate the vehicle running along the track at the same speed. The train model couples with the track model by using a Hertzian contact model for the wheel/rail normal force calculation, and the nonlinear creep theory by Shen et al. (1984) is used for wheel/rail tangent force calculation. In the analysis, a curved track of 7000-m radius with failed fasteners is selected, and the effects of train operational speed and the number of failed fasteners on the dynamic behaviors of the train and the track are investigated in detail. Furthermore, the wheel/rail forces and derailment coefficient and the wheelset loading reduction are analyzed when the high-speed train passes over the curved track with the different number of continuously failed fasteners at different operational speeds. Through the detailed numerical analysis, it is found that the high-speed train can operate normally on the curved track of 7000-m radius at the speeds of 200 km/h to 350 km/h.

A 3D model for coupling dynamics analysis of high-speed train/track system

“…An overview of singlevehicle/track modeling and its interaction analysis can be seen in (Knothe and Grassie, 1993;Popp et al, 1999;Zhai et al, 2009). Most of the existing models were used to deal with single-vehicle/track vertical interaction problems (Nielsen and Igeland, 1995;Fröhling, 1998;Oscarsson and Dahlberg, 1998;Sun and Dhanasekar, 2002;Lei and Mao, 2004;Cai et al, 2008), and a few were used to analyze lateral and vertical dynamical behavior (Zhai et al, 1996;Sun et al, 2003;Jin et al, 2006;Baeza and Ouyang, 2011;Xiao et al, 2011;Zhou and Shen, 2013). In addition, a few models for train/railway structure interactions were developed to investigate railway system dynamics (Yang and Wu, 2002;Xia et al, 2003;Tanabe et al, 2008;Ju and Li, 2011).…”

Derailment risk and dynamics of railway vehicles in curved tracks: Analysis of the effect of failed fasteners

“…A deeper analysis about the influence of the curve parameters and vehicle speed on derailment was presented in [14], employing the commercial software ADAMS/Rail. Derailment in a high-radius curve (7,000 m) including the effect of the fastener failure is analyzed in [15]; this study demonstrated that in this high-radius concrete curve, the stability of a high speed train is not compromised if the number of failed fasteners is lower than 15.…”

Effect of softening of cement asphalt mortar on vehicle operation safety and track dynamics

“…At present, two important criteria are widely used to evaluate the dynamic behavior and safety operation of high-speed trains (Xiao et al, 2007;2014;Zhou and Shen, 2013). One is Nadal's criterion (derailment coefficient), denoted by Eq.…”

“…Zhou and Shen (2013) and Xiao et al (2007) studied the effect of disabled fastening systems or unsupported sleepers on ballast tracks on vehicle derailment using a vehicle-track coupling dynamic model. CAM damage is particularly common in slab tracks.…”