Research on Continuous Measurement Method for Wheel-rail Forces and Validation with 1: 5 Scale Roller Rig Test

Abstract

：Wheel/rail force is the basis of the wheel rail relationship study, and it is the most important index to determine the vehicle operation safety. Furthermore, wheel/rail forces continuously measuring method is one of the complicate problems needed to be investigated, and it is the primary strategy to study on the vehicle system dynamics. Based on the relationship between the loads and strain of the wheels and axle, a continuous wheel/rail force measuring method is presented after strain gauges signal output derivation and wheel finite element calculation. The method includes the number and location of the strain gauges on the wheel rims and axle.Test bridges of the strain gauges are offered to get the signals of the strains. A 1∶5 scale force measuring wheelset is manufactured.The stain gauges are fixed on the scaled wheelset and the test bridges are developed according to method presented Wheel/rail lateral and vertical force are calibrated, and the relationship matrix between the loads and the strains are obtained. The methods, such as optimal location of strain gauges, numerical regression of calibration data and strain gauges joint application of wheels and axle, are introduced to minimize the error. An experiment is carried out to measure the wheel/rail forces with the scaled wheelset and a 1∶5 scale roller rig. The test results show that the wheel/rail force continuously measuring method is effective and accurate to obtain the wheel/rail loads.