Establishment of the thermo-mechanical coupling model of axle box bearings with track irregularity excitation and analysis of its temperature characteristics

As an important component of the running gear of high-speed trains,axle box bearings can cause lubricating grease failure and damage to bearing components under continuous high-temperature operation,which will affect the normal operation of highspeed trains.Therefore,bearing temperature is one of the key parameters to be monitored in the online monitoring system for trains.Based on the thermal network method,this paper establishes a thermal network model for the axle box bearing,considering the radial thermal deformation of the double-row tapered roller bearing components caused by the oil film characteristics and the temperature variations of the lubricating grease.A thermo-mechanical coupling model for the grease-lubricated double-row tapered roller axle box bearing of high-speed trains with track irregularity excitation is established.The correctness of the model is verified using the test bench data,and the temperature of the bearing at different rotational speeds,loads,fault sizes,and ambient temperatures are investigated.

Vibration of Axle Box from Wheel Diameter Difference in Vehicle

The wheel diameter difference would worsen the dynamic performance and affect the safety of the rail vehicle.Therefore,it is necessary to detect wheel diameter difference while the train is operating.However,several existing detection methods can’t accurately detect and diagnose the wheel diameter difference under highspeed running environment.In this study,a new method of detecting wheel diameter difference was proposed for high speed rail vehicle.The wheel diameter difference would be diagnosed by the amplitude and frequency of vibration impact on the axle box.Firstly,the dynamic model with varying wheel diameters was established in SIMPACK,and LMA tread was used in high-speed rail vehicles.Then,the simulation results of rail vehicle dynamic performance were compared under different wheel diameter differences.After that,the relationship between axle box vibration and wheel diameter difference was used to demonstrate the feasibility of this detection technology.Finally,comparing and analyzing the simulation results of vibration obtained by matching treads with different wheel diameters,it shows that by increasing the wheel diameter difference,the longitudinal and lateral impacts on axle boxes increase asymmetrically,and the amplitude and the frequency become more evident.Therefore,this paper presents a technical scheme of online measuring wheel diameter difference by monitoring the vibration of the axle box.

Analysis of the Temperature Characteristics of High-speed Train Bearings Based on a Dynamics Model and Thermal Network Method

High-speed trains often use temperature sensors to monitor the motion state of bearings.However,the temperature of bearings can be affected by factors such as weather and faults.Therefore,it is necessary to analyze in detail the relationship between the bearing temperature and influencing factors.In this study,a dynamics model of the axle box bearing of high-speed trains is established.The model can obtain the contact force between the rollers and raceway and its change law when the bearing contains outer-ring,inner-ring,and rolling-element faults.Based on the model,a thermal network method is introduced to study the temperature field distribution of the axle box bearings of high-speed trains.In this model,the heat generation,conduction,and dispersion of the isothermal nodes can be solved.The results show that the temperature of the contact point between the outer-ring raceway and rolling-elements is the highest.The relationships between the node temperature and the speed,fault type,and fault size are analyzed,finding that the higher the speed,the higher the node temperature.Under different fault types,the node temperature first increases and then decreases as the fault size increases.The effectiveness of the model is demonstrated using the actual temperature data of a high-speed train.This study proposes a thermal network model that can predict the temperature of each component of the bearings on a high-speed train under various speed and fault conditions.

An experimental study on the effects of friction modifiers on wheel-rail dynamic interactions with various angles of attack

By modifying friction to the desired level,the application of friction modifiers(FMs)has been considered as a promising emerging tool in the railway engineering for increasing braking/traction force in poor adhesion conditions and mitigating wheel/rail interface deterioration,energy consumption,vibration and noise.Understanding the effectiveness of FMs in wheel–rail dynamic interactions is crucial to their proper applications in practice,which has,however,not been well explained.This study experimentally investigates the effects of two types of top-of-rail FM,i.e.FM-A and FM-B,and their application dosages on wheel–rail dynamic interactions with a range of angles of attack(AoAs)using an innovative well-controlled V-track test rig.The tested FMs have been used to provide intermediate friction for wear and noise reduction.The effectiveness of the FMs is assessed in terms of the wheel–rail adhesion characteristics and friction rolling induced axle box acceleration(ABA).This study provides the following new insights into the study of FM:the applications of the tested FMs can both reduce the wheel–rail adhesion level and change the negative friction characteristic to positive;stick–slip can be generated in the V-Track and eliminated by FM-A but intensified by FM-B,depending on the dosage of the FMs applied;the negative friction characteristic is not a must for stick–slip;the increase in ABA with AoA is insignificant until stick–slip occurs and the ABA can thus be influenced by the applications of FM.

Feasibility in assessing the dipped rail joint defects through dynamic response of heavy haul locomotive

The feasibility of monitoring the dipped rail joint defects has been theoretically investigated by simulating a locomotive-mounted acceleration system negoti- ating several types of dipped rail defects. Initially, a comprehensive locomotive-track model was developed using the multi-body dynamics approach. In this model, the locomotive car-body, bogie frames, wheelsets and driving motors are considered as rigid bodies; track modelling was also taken into account. A quantitative relationship between the characteristics （peak-peak values） of the axle box accelerations and the rail defects was determined through simulations. Therefore, the proposed approach, which combines defect analysis and comparisons with theoretical results, will enhance the ability for long-term monitoring and assessment of track systems and provides more informed preventative track maintenance strategies.