On a New Method for Evaluation of Wheel Climb Derailment

In the paper, a new derailment index λ for evaluation of wheel climb derailment is proposed which is based on primary suspension forces. It is easy to apply because of its minimum criterion characteristic and can also be applied to explain the reason why wheel climb derailments are almost always accompanied by some wheel unloadings.

Development of a simulation model for dynamic derailment analysis of high-speed trains

The running safety of high-speed trains has become a major concern of the current railway research with the rapid development of high-speed railways around the world.The basic safety requirement is to prevent the derailment.The root causes of the dynamic derailment of highspeed trains operating in severe environments are not easy to identify using the field tests or laboratory experiments.Numerical simulation using an advanced train–track interaction model is a highly efficient and low-cost approach to investigate the dynamic derailment behavior and mechanism of high-speed trains.This paper presents a three-dimensional dynamic model of a high-speed train coupled with a ballast track for dynamic derailment analysis.The model considers a train composed of multiple vehicles and the nonlinear inter-vehicle connections.The ballast track model consists of rails,fastenings,sleepers,ballasts,and roadbed,which are modeled by Euler beams,nonlinear spring-damper elements,equivalent ballast bodies,and continuous viscoelastic elements,in which the modal superposition method was used to reduce the order of the partial differential equations of Euler beams.The commonly used derailment safety assessment criteria around the world are embedded in the simulation model.The train–track model was then used to investigate the dynamic derailment responses of a high-speed train passing over a buckled track,in which the derailmentmechanism and train running posture during the dynamic derailment process were analyzed in detail.The effects of train and track modelling on dynamic derailment analysis were also discussed.The numerical results indicate that the train and track modelling options have a significant effect on the dynamic derailment analysis.The inter-vehicle impacts and the track flexibility and nonlinearity should be considered in the dynamic derailment simulations.

Theory of random energy analysis for train derailment

Three fundamental problems in the calculation of train derailment abroad and at home were pointed out and the solutions to these problems were presented. The theory of random energy analysis for train derailment was suggested. The main contents of this theory are as follows: geometric criterion of derailment; method of random energy analysis of transverse vibration of train track system; mechanism of derailment and energy increment criterion for derailment evaluation; calculation of the entire derailment course of train. This theory is used to calculate a case of freight train derailment, which corresponds to an actually occurring accident. Another derailment test, in which the train is judged not to be derailed, is calculated and the maximum vibration response is well correspond to the test results. And the effectiveness and practicability of the theory are proved by the two calculated cases.

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

The effect of the fastener＇s failure in a railway track on the dynamic forces produced in the wheel-rail contact is studied using the simulation software VAMPIRE to assess the derailment risk of two different vehicles in two curves with distinct characteristics. First, a 3D-FEM model of a real track is constructed, paying special attention to fasteners, and calibrated with displacement data obtained experimentally during a train passage. This numerical model is subsequently used to determine the track vertical and lateral stiffness. This study evidences that although the track can practically lose its lateral stiffness as a consequence of the failure of 7 consecutive fasteners, the vehicle stability would not be necessarily compromised in the flawed zone. Moreover, the results reveal that the uncompensated acceleration and the distance along which the fasteners are failed play an important role in the dynamic behavior of the vehicle-track system, influencing strongly the risk of derailment.

Simulation on derailment base on a new wheel-rail contact method

The simulation package for special research on derailment of high speed vehicle is established.The process of derailment is different from other behaviors of vehicle dynamics because of large lateral displacement of wheelsets.To get correct results,a new fast algorithm to computing contact force is adopted and the exact geometry analysis is necessary to judge derailment happened.Variation of contact condition and coefficient of friction with speeds are also considered into vehicle-track coupled model.The structure of the package is presented in detail.The results are particular emphasis on investigation influence of maximum track defect,critical vehicle speed and various contact condition on derailment.The simulation can also be used to define the most risk factor leading to derailment.

Fragility analysis for vehicle derailment on railway bridges under earthquakes

With the rapid development of high-speed railways around the globe,the safety of vehicles running on bridges during earthquakes has been paid more attention to.In the design of railway bridges,in addition to ensuring the safety of the bridge structure in earthquake,the vehicle safety should also be ensured.Previous studies have focused on the detailed analysis of vehicle derailment on bridges,proposing complex numerical algorithms for wheel-rail contact analysis as well as for parametric analysis,but they are inconvenient for designers.Intensity measure(IM)used in performance-based earthquake engineering is introduced in this study.A method to evaluate the vehicle safety on bridges under earthquakes is proposed with respect to the optimal IM.Then,the vehicle derailment case of the Kumamoto earthquake in Japan verifies the decoupling method of vehicle-bridge interaction model.In the assessment of vehicle derailments,eight IMs are systematically compared:the IMs of bridge deck motion are generally better than those of ground motion;the variation coefficient of spectral intensity of the bridge deck is the smallest at different frequencies.Finally,the derailment fragility cloud map is presented to evaluate the vehicle safety on bridges during earthquakes.

Analysis theory of random energy of train derailment in wind

Based on the analysis theory of random energy of train derailment, an analysis theory of random energy of train derailment in wind is suggested. Two methods are proposed -the time domain method and the frequency domain method of analysis theory of random energy of train derailment in wind. The curves of σ pw -v under various wind speeds are obtained through the computation. The original curve of σ p -v is expanded, which turns the analysis theory of random energy of train derailment into the all-weather theory. Train derailment condition has been established under wind action. The first and second criterions of train derailment have been proposed in light of wind action. The analysis of train derailment cases at home or abroad is made, in- cluding the first analysis of Xinjiang train derailment case encountered 13-level of gale, which explained the inevitability of train derailment. The analysis theory of random energy of train derailment in wind shows its validity and accuracy. The input energy σ pw of the transverse vibration of train-track(bridge)-wind system is linked to train speed. With the establishment of the analysis theory of random energy of train derailment in wind, It is likely to initiate an all-weather speed limit map for a train or any high-speed train.

Study on wear characteristics and authorized limits of switch rails of high-speed turnout

Purpose-It is quite universal for high-speed turnouts to be exposed to the wear of the stock rail of the switch rail during the service process.The wear will cause the change of railhead profile and the relative positions of the switch rail and the stock rail,which will directly affect the wheel-rail contact state and wheel load transition when a train passes the turnout and will further impose serious impacts on the safety and stability of train operation.The purpose of this paper is to provide suggestions for wear management of high-speed turnout.Design/methodology/approach-The actual wear characteristics of switch rails of high-speed turnouts in different guiding directions were studied based on the monitoring results on site;the authorized wear limits for the switch rails of high-speed turnout were studied through derailment risk analysis and switch rail strength analysis.Findings-The results show that:the major factor for the service life of a curved switch rail is the lateral wear.The wear characteristics of the curved switch rail of a facing turnout are significantly different from those of a trailing turnout.To be specific,the lateral wear of the curved switch rail mainly occurs in the narrower section at its front end for a trailing turnout,but in the wider section at its rear end when for a facing turnout.The maximum lateral wear of a dismounted switch rail from a trailing turnout is found on the 15-mm wide section and is 3.9 mm,which does not reach the specified limit of 6 mm.For comparison,the lateral wear of a dismounted switch rail from a facing turnout is found from the 35-mm wide section to the full-width section and is greater than 7.5 mm,which exceeds the specified limit.Based on this,in addition to meeting the requirements of maintenance rules,the allowed wear of switch rails of high-speed turnout shall be so that the dangerous area with a tangent angle of wheel profile smaller than 43.68 will not contact the switch rail when the wheel is lifted by 2 mm.Accordingly,the lateral wear limit at the 5-mm wide section of the curved switch rail shall be reduced from 6 mm(as specified)to 3.5 mm.Originality/value-The work in this paper is of reference significance to the research on the development law of rail wear in high-speed turnout area and the formulation of relevant standards.

Safety evaluation for railway vehicles using an improved indirect measurement method of wheel–rail forces

The wheel-rail force measurement is of great importance to the condition monitoring and safety evaluation of railway vehicles. In this paper, an improved indirect method for wheel-rail force measurement is proposed to evaluate the running safety of railway vehicles. In this method, the equilibrium equations of a suspended wheelset are derived and the wheel-rail forces are then be obtained from measured suspension and inertia forces. This indirect method avoids structural modifications to the wheelset and is applicable to the long-term operation of railway vehicles. As the wheel-rail lateral forces at two sides of the wheelset are difficult to separate, a new derailment criterion by combined use of wheelset derailment coefficient and wheel unloading ratio is proposed. To illustrate its effectiveness, the indirect method is applied to safety evaluation of rail- way vehicles in different scenarios, such as the cross wind safety of a high-speed train and the safety of a metro vehicle with hunting motions. Then, the feasibility of using this method to identify wheel-rail forces for low-floor light rail vehicles with resilient wheels is discussed. The values identified by this method is compared with that by Simpack simulation for the same low-floor vehicle, which shows a good coincidence between them in the time domain of the wheelset lateral force and the wheel-rail vertical force. In addition, use of the method to determine the high-frequency wheel-rail interaction forces reveals that it is possible to identify the high-frequency wheel-rail forces through the accelerations on the axle box.

Safety evaluation of a vehicle–bridge interaction system using the pseudo-excitation method

A method for analysing the vehicle-bridge interaction system with enhanced objectivity is proposed in the paper, which considers the time-variant and random characteristics and allows finding the power spectral densities(PSDs) of the system responses directly from the PSD of track irregularity. The pseudo-excitation method is adopted in the proposed framework, where the vehicle is modelled as a rigid body and the bridge is modelled using the finite element method. The vertical and lateral wheel-rail pseudo-excitations are established assuming the wheel and rail have the same displacement and using the simplified Kalker creep theory, respectively. The power spectrum function of vehicle and bridge responses is calculated by history integral. Based on the dynamic responses from the deterministic and random analyses of the interaction system, and the probability density functions for three safety factors(derailment coefficient, wheel unloading rate, and lateral wheel axle force) are obtained, and the probabilities of the safety factors exceeding the given limits are calculated. The proposed method is validated by Monte Carlo simulations using a case study of a high-speed train running over a bridge with five simply supported spans and four piers.

Dynamic simulation and safety evaluation of high-speed trains meeting in open air

Dynamic responses of a carriage under excitation with the German high-speed low-interference track spectrum together with the air pressure pulse generated as high-speed trains passing each other are investigated with a multi-body dynamics method.The variations of degrees of freedom（DOFs：horizontal movement,roll angle,and yaw angle）,the lateral wheel-rail force,the derailment coefficient and the rate of wheel load reduction with time when two carriages meet in open air are obtained and compared with the results of a single train travelling at specifie speeds.Results show that the rate of wheel load reduction increases with the increase of train speed and meets some safety standard at a certain speed,but exceeding the value of the rate of wheel load reduction does not necessarily mean derailment.The evaluation standard of the rate of wheel load reduction is somewhat conservative and may be loosened.The pressure pulse has significan effects on the train DOFs,and the evaluations of these safety indexes are strongly suggested in practice.The pressure pulse has a limited effect on the derailment coefficien and the lateral wheel-rail force,and,thus,their further evaluations may be not necessary.

Assessment of the curving performance of heavy haul trains under braking conditions

To study the curving performance of trains, 1D and 3D dynamic models of trains were built using nu- merical methods. The 1D model was composed of 210 simple wagons, each allowed only longitudinal motion; whereas the 3D model included three complicated wagons for which longitudinal, lateral, and vertical degrees of freedom were considered. Combined with the calculated results from the 1D model under braking conditions, the behavior of draft gears and brake shoes were added to the 3D model. The assessment of the curving performance of trains was focused on making comparisons between idling and braking conditions. The results indicated the following： when a train brakes on a curved track, the wheel-rail lateral force and derailment factor are greater than under idling conditions. Because the yawing movement of the wheelset is limited by brake shoes, the zone of wheel contact along the wheel tread is wider than under idling conditions. Furthermore, as the curvature becomes tighter, the traction ratio shows a nonlinear increasing trend, whether under idling or braking conditions. By increasing the brake shoe pressure, train steering becomes more difficult.

The Impacts of Leadership Styles on the Overall Performance of the Educational Establishments

This paper explores profoundly the ramifications of leadership styles on the whole of performance of educational organizations.First of all,it defines the concepts of leadership and management from different perspectives and points out the differences between them to highlight their impacts on the educational organizations performance and achievement.As well,it presents a plethora of leadership theories as they are the bases for leadership styles as each style is built on a certain theory.Furthermore,this paper states certain principles that lay out the practicalities of shaping a successful leader.Besides,it debates the decisive roles of leadership styles in creating a practical positive culture that provides the educational process with a clear vision and mission for guiding its teaching and administrative staffs to achieve their objectives and improve their potentials and capabilities.Moreover,the paper discusses the effects of leadership on the teaching and learning process in terms of creativity and development.Additionally,it points out leadership role in the teaching staff’s productivity,job satisfaction,loyalty,and profession development.Simultaneously,this paper discusses the influences of leadership styles students’attainments and management in the educational process.Furthermore,the research paper investigates the flaws of leadership and their repercussions on educational process and the ways of readdressing them.

Derailed Hopes

The devastating Wenzhou train crash has a mixed impact on the Chinese economy and industries associated with high-speed trains While China mourns the lives lost in the high-speed rail crash on July 23 near Wenzhou, the accident’s far-reaching implications for the economy are being increasingly felt.