Structural Analysis of Railways Bolster-Beam Under Commercial Operation Conditions: Over-Traction Andover-Braking

Abstract

Summary.The conditions for the operation of railway systems are closely related to the increase of the commercial demand; as a consequence, the performance of the structural elements of railways changes. The present paper focuses on a study of the structural behaviour of bolster-beams under commercial operation conditions of railway systems, specifically in the dynamic conditions generated in events of over-traction and over-braking on the vehicle running. The proposed work is constructed based on the following phases: (i) analysis of the kinematics of the vehicle; (ii) development of numerical models, a model based on the multibody theory, and a Finite Elements model; (iii) development of experimental field tests; and (iv) development of simulations for a detailed analysis of the structural behaviour for a study of the strain distribution in the main bolster-beam. This study is applied to a particular case of a railway system that provides commercial service to passengers. ANÁLISIS DEL ESTRUCTURAL DE LAS TRAVIESAS DE TRENES BAJO CONDICIONES DE OPERACIÓN COMERCIAL: SOBRE-ACELERACIÓN Y SOBRE-FRENADOResumen. Las condiciones de operación de los sistemas ferroviarios se encuentran estrechamente relacionadas con el incremento de la demanda, en consecuencia el comportamiento de los elementos estructurales del tren varían. El presente trabajo se enfoca en el estudio del comportamiento estructural de la traviesa pivote, bajo condiciones de operación comercial de un sistema ferroviario, específicamente en las condiciones dinámicas generadas en los eventos de sobre-aceleración y sobre-frenado del vehículo. El trabajo propuesto se estructura con base en el siguiente conjunto de etapas: (i) estudio de la cinemática del vehículo en marcha; (ii) desarrollo de modelos numéricos uno basado en la teoría multi-cuerpo y otro basado en Elementos Finitos; (iii) desarrollo de pruebas experimentales en campo; y (iv) desarrollo de simulaciones para el análisis detallado del comportamiento estructural para el estudio del flujo de los esfuerzos en la traviesa pivote. El trabajo es aplicado a un caso particular de estudio de un sistema ferroviario que presta servicio comercial de pasajeros.

The use of semi-automatic technique of finite elements mesh generation for solutions of some railway transport problems

“…However, the question of meshes matching in the contact area often not considered. For example, the authors of the paper [6] to create of a FE meshes of bogie frame used elements of different types. However, issues related to the coordination of this mesh with other parts not considered.…”

Full scale fatigue test performed to the bolster beam of a railway vehicle

“…1. Its is designed to support the bogie yaw, but maintaining enough comfort for passengers [19]. Several authors reported occurrence of cracks after few years of operation [1,29], reappearing after welding them, so requiring posterior analysis of their causes.…”