Virtual sample generation for model-based prognostics and health management of on-board high-speed train control system

In view of class imbalance in data-driven modeling for Prognostics and Health Management(PHM),existing classification methods may fail in generating effective fault prediction models for the on-board high-speed train control equipment.A virtual sample generation solution based on Generative Adversarial Network(GAN)is proposed to overcome this shortcoming.Aiming at augmenting the sample classes with the imbalanced data problem,the GAN-based virtual sample generation strategy is embedded into the establishment of fault prediction models.Under the PHM framework of the on-board train control system,the virtual sample generation principle and the detailed procedures are presented.With the enhanced class-balancing mechanism and the designed sample augmentation logic,the PHM scheme of the on-board train control equipment has powerful data condition adaptability and can effectively predict the fault probability and life cycle status.Practical data from a specific type of on-board train control system is employed for the validation of the presented solution.The comparative results indicate that GAN-based sample augmentation is capable of achieving a desirable sample balancing level and enhancing the performance of correspondingly derived fault prediction models for the Condition-based Maintenance(CBM)operations.

Optimization study of station track utilization in high-speed railroad based on constraints of control in random origin and process

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to eliminate the fluctuations in train arrival and departure times caused by skewed distributions in interval operation times.These fluctuations arise from random origin and process factors during interval operations and can accumulate over multiple intervals.The aim is to enhance the robustness of high-speed rail station arrival and departure track utilization schemes.Design/methodologylapproach-To achieve this objective,the paper simulates actual train operations,incorporating the fluctuations in interval operation times into the utilization of arrival and departure tracks at the station.The Monte Carlo simulation method is adopted to solve this problem.This approach transforms a nonlinear model,which includes constraints from probability distribution functions and is difficult to solve directly,into a linear programming model that is easier to handle.The method then linearly weights two objectives to optimize the solution.Findings-Through the application of Monte Carlo simulation,the study successfully converts the complex nonlinear model with probability distribution function constraints into a manageable linear programming model.By continuously adjusting the weighting coefficients of the linear objectives,the method is able to optimize the Pareto solution.Notably,this approach does not require extensive scene data to obtain a satisfactory Pareto solution set.Originality/value-The paper contributes to the field by introducing a novel method for optimizing high-speed rail station arrival and departure track utilization in the presence of fluctuations in interval operation times.The use of Monte Carlo simulation to transform the problem into a tractable linear programming model represents a significant advancement.Furthermore,the method's ability to produce satisfactory Pareto solutions without relying on extensive data sets adds to its practical value and applicability in real-world scenarios.

Numerical investigation on the aerodynamic drag reduction based on bottom deflectors and streamlined bogies of a high-speed train

The complex structure of the bottom of a high-speed train is an important source of train aerodynamic drag.Thus,improving the bottom structure is of great significance to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the train.In this study,computational fluid dynamics(CFD)based on three-dimensional steady incompressible Reynolds-average Naiver-Stokes(RANS)equations and Realizable k-ε turbulence model were utilized for numerical simulations.Inspired by the concept of streamlined design and the idea of bottom flow field control,this study iteratively designed the bogies in a streamlined shape and combined them with the bottom deflectors to investigate the joint drag reduction mechanism.Three models,i.e.,single-bogie model,simplified train model,and eight-car high-speed train model,were created and their aerodynamic characteristics were analyzed.The results show that the single-bogie model with streamlined design shows a noticeable drag reduction,whose power bogie and trailer bogie experience 13.92%and 7.63%drag reduction,respectively.The range of positive pressure area on the bogie is reduced.The aerodynamic drag can be further reduced to 15.01%by installing both the streamlined bogie and the deflector on the simplified train model.When the streamlined bogies and deflectors are used on the eight-car model together,the total drag reduction rate reaches 2.90%.Therefore,the proposed aerodynamic kit for the high-speed train bottom is capable to improve the flow structure around the bogie regions,reduce the bottom flow velocity,and narrow the scope of the train’s influence on the surrounding environment,achieving the appreciable reduction of aerodynamic drag.This paper can provide a new idea for the drag reduction of high-speed trains.

Dynamic analysis of axle box bearings on the high-speed train caused by wheel-rail excitation

To explore the impact of wheel-rail excitation on the dynamic performance of axle box bearings,a dynamic model of the high-speed train including axle box bearings is developed.Subsequently,the dynamic response characteristics of the axle box bearing are examined.The investigation focuses on the acceleration characteristics of bearing vibration under excitation of track irregularities and wheel flats.In addition,experiments on both normal and faulty bearings are conducted separately,and the correctness of the model and some conclusions are verified.According to the research,track irregularity is unfavorable for bearing fault detection based on resonance demodulation.Under the same speed conditions,the acceleration peak of bearing is inversely proportional to the length of the wheel flat and directly proportional to its depth.The paper will contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamic performance of axle box bearings.

Aerodynamic Features of High-Speed Maglev Trains with Different Marshaling Lengths Running on a Viaduct under Crosswinds

The safety and stability of high-speed maglev trains traveling on viaducts in crosswinds critically depend on their aerodynamic characteristics.Therefore,this paper uses an improved delayed detached eddy simulation(IDDES)method to investigate the aerodynamic features of high-speed maglev trains with different marshaling lengths under crosswinds.The effects of marshaling lengths(varying from 3-car to 8-car groups)on the train’s aerodynamic performance,surface pressure,and the flow field surrounding the train were investigated using the three-dimensional unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes(N-S)equations.The results showed that the marshaling lengths had minimal influence on the aerodynamic performance of the head and middle cars.Conversely,the marshaling lengths are negatively correlated with the time-average side force coefficient(CS)and time-average lift force coefficient(Cl)of the tail car.Compared to the tail car of the 3-car groups,the CS and Cl fell by 27.77%and 18.29%,respectively,for the tail car of the 8-car groups.It is essential to pay more attention to the operational safety of the head car,as it exhibits the highest time average CS.Additionally,the mean pressure difference between the two sides of the tail car body increased with the marshaling lengths,and the side force direction on the tail car was opposite to that of the head and middle cars.Furthermore,the turbulent kinetic energy of the wake structure on the windward side quickly decreased as marshaling lengths increased.

Torque effect on vibration behavior of high-speed train gearbox under internal and external excitations

The high-speed train transmission system,experiencing both the internal excitation originating from gear meshing and the external excitation originating from the wheel-rail interaction,exhibits complex dynamic behavior in the actual service environment.This paper focuses on the gearbox in the high-speed train to carry out the bench test,in which various operat-ing conditions(torques and rotation speeds)were set up and the excitation condition covering both internal and external was created.Acceleration responses on multiple positions of the gearbox were acquired in the test and the vibration behavior of the gearbox was studied.Meanwhile,a stochastic excitation modal test was also carried out on the test bench under different torques,and the modal parameter of the gearbox was identified.Finally,the sweep frequency response of the gearbox under gear meshing excitation was analyzed through dynamic modeling.The results showed that the torque has an attenuating effect on the amplitude of gear meshing frequency on the gearbox,and the effect of external excitation on the gearbox vibration cannot be ignored,especially under the rated operating condition.It was also found that the torque affects the modal param-eter of the gearbox significantly.The torque has a great effect on both the gear meshing stiffness and the bearing stiffness in the transmission system,which is the inherent reason for the changed modal characteristics observed in the modal test and affects the vibration behavior of the gearbox consequently.

Advancing high-speed train gearbox durability:enhanced bearing load and contact stress through transition from helical to herringbone gears

High-speed trains typically utilize helical gear transmissions,which significantly impact the bearing load capacity and fatigue service performance of the gearbox bearings.This paper focuses on the gearbox bearings,establishing dynamic models for both helical gear and herringbone gear transmissions in high-speed trains.The modeling particularly emphasizes the precision of the bearings at the gearbox's pinion and gear wheels.Using this model,a comparative analysis is conducted on the bearing loads and contact stresses of the gearbox bearings under uniform-speed operation between the two gear transmissions.The findings reveal that the helical gear transmission generates axial forces leading to severe load imbalance on the bearings at both sides of the large gear,and this imbalance intensifies with the increase in train speed.Consequently,this results in a significant increase in contact stress on the bearings on one side.The adoption of herringbone gear transmission effectively suppresses axial forces,resolving the load imbalance issue and substantially reducing the contact stress on the originally biased side of the bearings.The study demonstrates that employing herringbone gear transmission can significantly enhance the service performance of high-speed train gearbox bearings,thereby extending their service life.

Integration of bio-inspired limb-like structure damping into motor suspension of high-speed trains to enhance bogie hunting stability

Hunting stability is an important performance criterion in railway vehicles.This study proposes an incorporation of a bio-inspired limb-like structure(LLS)-based nonlinear damping into the motor suspension system for traction units to improve the nonlinear critical speed and hunting stability of high-speed trains(HSTs).Initially,a vibration transmission analysis is conducted on a HST vehicle and a metro vehicle that suffered from hunting motion to explore the effect of different motor suspension systems from on-track tests.Subsequently,a simplified lateral dynamics model of an HST bogie is established to investigate the influence of the motor suspension on the bogie hunting behavior.The bifurcation analysis is applied to optimize the motor suspension parameters for high critical speed.Then,the nonlinear damping of the bio-inspired LLS,which has a positive correlation with the relative displacement,can further improve the modal damping of hunting motion and nonlinear critical speed compared with the linear motor suspension system.Furthermore,a comprehensive numerical model of a high-speed train,considering all nonlinearities,is established to investigate the influence of different types of motor suspension.The simulation results are well consistent with the theoretical analysis.The benefits of employing nonlinear damping of the bio-inspired LLS into the motor suspension of HSTs to enhance bogie hunting stability are thoroughly validated.

Head injury mechanisms of the occupant under high-speed train rear-end collision

To improve the passive safety of high-speed trains,it is very important to understand the mechanism of head injury in high-speed train collisions.In this study,the head injury mechanisms of occupants in high-speed train rear-end collisions were investigated based on the occupant-seat coupling model,which included a dummy representing the Chinese 50th percentile adult male.The typical injury responses in terms of skull fractures,brain contusions,and diffuse axonal injury(DAI)were analyzed.Meanwhile,the influences of collision speed and seat parameters on head injury response were examined.The simulation results indicate that the skull fractures primarily occur at the skull base region due to excessive neck extension,while the brain contusions and DAI result from the relative displacement of different brain regions.The increase in collision speed will promote the probability of skull fracture,brain contusion,and DAI.Seat design modifications,such as reduced seat spacing,increased seat backrest angles,and selecting the appropriate cushion angle(76°)and friction coefficient(0.15),can effectively mitigate probably occupant's head injury.

Flow and sound fields of scaled high-speed trains with different coach numbers running in long tunnel

Segregated incompressible large eddy simulation and acoustic perturbation equations were used to obtain the flow field and sound field of 1:25 scale trains with three,six and eight coaches in a long tunnel,and the aerodynamic results were verified by wind tunnel test with the same scale two-coach train model.Time-averaged drag coefficients of the head coach of three trains are similar,but at the tail coach of the multi-group trains it is much larger than that of the three-coach train.The eight-coach train presents the largest increment from the head coach to the tail coach in the standard deviation(STD)of aerodynamic force coefficients:0.0110 for drag coefficient(Cd),0.0198 for lift coefficient(Cl)and 0.0371 for side coef-ficient(Cs).Total sound pressure level at the bottom of multi-group trains presents a significant streamwise increase,which is different from the three-coach train.Tunnel walls affect the acoustic distribution at the bottom,only after the coach number reaches a certain value,and the streamwise increase in the sound pressure fluctuation of multi-group trains is strengthened by coach number.Fourier transform of the turbulent and sound pressures presents that coach number has little influence on the peak frequencies,but increases the sound pressure level values at the tail bogie cavities.Furthermore,different from the turbulent pressure,the first two sound pressure proper orthogonal decomposition(POD)modes in the bogie cavities contain 90%of the total energy,and the spatial distributions indicate that the acoustic distributions in the head and tail bogies are not related to coach number.

Measured dynamic load distribution within the in situ axlebox bearing of high-speed trains under polygonal wheel–rail excitation

The dynamic load distribution within in-service axlebox bearings of high-speed trains is crucial for the fatigue reliability assessment and forward design of axlebox bearings. This paper presents an in situ measurement of the dynamic load distribution in the four rows of two axlebox bearings on a bogie wheelset of a high-speed train under polygonal wheel–rail excitation. The measurement employed an improved strain-based method to measure the dynamic radial load distribution of roller bearings. The four rows of two axlebox bearings on a wheelset exhibited different ranges of loaded zones and different means of distributed loads. Besides, the mean value and standard deviation of measured roller–raceway contact loads showed non-monotonic variations with the frequency of wheel–rail excitation. The fatigue life of the four bearing rows under polygonal wheel–rail excitation was quantitatively predicted by compiling the measured roller–raceway contact load spectra of the most loaded position and considering the load spectra as input.

Theory and practice for assessing structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains

Purpose–The safety and reliability of high-speed trains rely on the structural integrity of their components and the dynamic performance of the entire vehicle system.This paper aims to define and substantiate the assessment of the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains in both theory and practice.The key principles and approacheswill be proposed,and their applications to high-speed trains in Chinawill be presented.Design/methodology/approach–First,the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains are defined,and their relationship is introduced.Then,the principles for assessing the structural integrity of structural and dynamical components are presented and practical examples of gearboxes and dampers are provided.Finally,the principles and approaches for assessing the dynamical integrity of highspeed trains are presented and a novel operational assessment method is further presented.Findings–Vehicle system dynamics is the core of the proposed framework that provides the loads and vibrations on train components and the dynamic performance of the entire vehicle system.For assessing the structural integrity of structural components,an open-loop analysis considering both normal and abnormal vehicle conditions is needed.For assessing the structural integrity of dynamical components,a closed-loop analysis involving the influence of wear and degradation on vehicle system dynamics is needed.The analysis of vehicle system dynamics should follow the principles of complete objects,conditions and indices.Numerical,experimental and operational approaches should be combined to achieve effective assessments.Originality/value–The practical applications demonstrate that assessing the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains can support better control of critical defects,better lifespan management of train components and better maintenance decision-making for high-speed trains.

Investigation on influencing factors of wheel polygonization of a plateau high-speed EMU train

Purpose–This study aims to investigate the cause of high-order wheel polygonization in a plateau high-speed electric multiple unit(EMU)train.Design/methodology/approach–A series of field tests were conducted to measure the vibration accelerations of the axle box and bogie when the wheels of the EMU train passed through tracks with normal rail roughness after re-profiling.Additionally,the dynamic characteristics of the track,wheelset and bogie were also measured.These measurements provided insights into the mechanisms that lead to wheel polygonization.Findings–The results of the field tests indicate that wheel polygonal wear in theEMUtrain primarily exhibits 14–16 and 25–27 harmonic orders.The passing frequencies of wheel polygonization were approximately 283–323 Hz and 505–545 Hz,which closely match the dominated frequencies of axle box and bogie vibrations.These findings suggest that the fixed-frequency vibrations originate from the natural modes of the wheelset and bogie,which can be excited by wheel/rail irregularities.Originality/value–The study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of high-order wheel polygonization in plateau high-speed EMU trains.Futher,the results indicate that operating the EMU train on mixed lines at variable speeds could potentially mitigate high-order polygonal wear,providing practical value for improving the safety,performance and maintenance efficiency of high-speed EMU trains.

Coupling vibration analysis of high-speed maglev train-viaduct systems with control loop failure

The risk of failure of the control loop can occur when a high-speed maglev train runs on viaduct.Meanwhile,the failure of the levitation magnets which balances the gravity of the maglev train could cause the train collision with track.To study the dynamic response of the train and the viaduct when the levitation magnet control loop failure occurs,a high-speed maglev train-viaduct coupling model,which includes a maglev controller fitted by measured force-gap data and considers the actual structure of train and viaduct,is established.Then the accuracy and effectiveness of the established approach are validated by comparing the computed dynamic responses and frequencies with the measurement results.After that,the dynamic responses of maglev train and viaduct are discussed under normal operation and control loop failures,and the most disadvantageous combination of control loop failures is obtained.The results show that when a single control loop fails,it only has a great influence on the failed electromagnet,and the maglev response of adjacent electromagnets has no obvious change and no collision occurs.But there is a risk of rail collisions when the dual control loop fails.

High-Speed Trains Automatic Operation with Protection Constraints: A Resilient Nonlinear Gain-based Feedback Control Approach

This paper addresses the control design for automatic train operation of high-speed trains with protection constraints.A new resilient nonlinear gain-based feedback control approach is proposed,which is capable of guaranteeing,under some proper non-restrictive initial conditions,the protection constraints control raised by the distance-to-go(moving authority)curve and automatic train protection in practice.A new hyperbolic tangent function-based model is presented to mimic the whole operation process of high-speed trains.The proposed feedback control methods are easily implementable and computationally inexpensive because the presence of only two feedback gains guarantee satisfactory tracking performance and closed-loop stability,no adaptations of unknown parameters,function approximation of unknown nonlinearities,and attenuation of external disturbances in the proposed control strategies.Finally,rigorous proofs and comparative simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.

Position Control Optimization of Aerodynamic Brake Device for High-speed Trains

The aerodynamic braking is a clean and non-adhesion braking, and can be used to provide extra braking force during high-speed emergency braking. The research of aerodynamic braking has attracted more and more attentions in recent years. However, most researchers in this field focus on aerodynamic effects and seldom on issues of position control of the aerodynamic braking board. The purpose of this paper is to explore position control optimization of the braking board in an aerodynamic braking prototype. The mathematical models of the hydraulic drive unit in the aerodynamic braking system are analyzed in detail, and the simulation models are established. Three control functions--constant, linear, and quadratic--are explored. Two kinds of criteria, including the position steady-state error and the acceleration of the piston rod, are used to evaluate system performance. Simulation results show that the position steady state-error is reduced from around 12-2 mm by applying a linear instead of a constant function, while the acceleration is reduced from 25,71-3.70 m/s2 with a quadratic control function. Use of the quadratic control function is shown to improve system performance. Experimental results obtained by measuring the position response of the piston rod on a test-bench also suggest a reduced position error and smooth movement of the piston rod. This implies that the acceleration is smaller when using the quadratic function, thus verifying the effectiveness of control schemes to improve to system performance. This paper proposes an effective and easily implemented control scheme that improves the position response of hydraulic cylinders during position control.

Effect of cavity flow control on high-speed train pantograph and roof aerodynamic noise

The pantograph and its recess on the train roof are major aerodynamic noise sources on high-speed trains.Reducing this noise is particularly important because conventional noise barriers usually do not shield the pantograph.However,less attention has been paid to the pantograph recess compared with the pantograph.In this paper,the flow features and noise contribution of two types of noise reduction treatments rounded and chamfered edges are studied for a simplified high-speed train pantograph recess,which is represented as a rectangular cavity and numerically investigated at 1/10 scale.Improved delayed detached-eddy simulations are performed for the near-field turbulent flow simulation,and the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings aeroacoustic analogy is used for far-field noise prediction.The highly unsteady flow over the cavity is significantly reduced by the cavity edge modifications,and consequently,the noise radiated from the cavity is reduced.Furthermore,effects of the rounded cavity edges on the flow and noise of the pantographs(one raised and one folded)are investigated by comparing the flow features and noise contributions from the cases with and without rounding of the cavity edges.Different train running directions are also considered.Flow analysis shows that the highly unsteady flow within the cavity is reduced by rounding the cavity edges and a slightly lower flow speed occurs around the upper parts of the raised pantograph,whereas the flow velocity in the cavity is slightly increased by the rounding.Higher pressure fluctuations occur on the folded pantograph and the lower parts of the raised pantograph,whereas weaker fluctuations are found on the panhead of the raised pantograph.This study shows that by rounding the cavity edges,a reduction in radiated noise at the side and the top receiver positions can be achieved.Noise reductions in the other directions can also be found.

Control method of unfavorable speed interval for high-speed trains

In tests on dynamic performance of high-speed trains, it is found that there is an unfavorable speed interval for some vehicles, which would he harmful to the daily operation of the vehicle. By analyzing the relationship of vibration frequencies of the vehicle and its running speed, this paper finds that the unfavorable speed interval is caused by the vibration superposition of the natural frequency of the vehicle system with the frequency of external excitation. Taking some electric multiple units （EMUs） as examples, we proposed an approach to obtaining the unfavorable speed interval of vehicles. By analyzing the relation between vibration frequencies and the running speed of the vehicle, the natural frequencies of the vehicle system and the external excitations are distinguished. In the end, we suggest some measures to minimize the negative influences of the unfavorable speed interval, such as shifting frequency, reducing or eliminating external excitation.

High-speed train cooperativecontrol based on fractional-ordersliding mode adaptive algorithm

Purpose–This study aims to propose an adaptive fractional-order sliding mode controller to solve the problem of train speed tracking control and position interval control under disturbance environment in moving block system,so as to improve the tracking efficiency and collision avoidance performance.Design/methodology/approach–The mathematical model of information interaction between trains is established based on algebraic graph theory,so that the train can obtain the state information of adjacent trains,and then realize the distributed cooperative control of each train.In the controller design,the sliding mode control and fractional calculus are combined to avoid the discontinuous switching phenomenon,so as to suppress the chattering of sliding mode control,and a parameter adaptive law is constructed to approximate the time-varying operating resistance coefficient.Findings–The simulation results show that compared with proportional integral derivative(PID)control and ordinary sliding mode control,the control accuracy of the proposed algorithm in terms of speed is,respectively,improved by 25%and 75%.The error frequency and fluctuation range of the proposed algorithm are reduced in the position error control,the error value tends to 0,and the operation trend tends to be consistent.Therefore,the control method can improve the control accuracy of the system and prove that it has strong immunity.Originality/value–The algorithm can reduce the influence of external interference in the actual operating environment,realize efficient and stable tracking of trains,and ensure the safety of train control.

Robust output feedback cruise control for high-speed train movement with uncertain parameters

In this paper, the robust output feedback cruise control for high-speed train movement with uncertain parameters is investigated. The dynamic of a high-speed train is modeled by a cascade of cars connected by flexible couplers, which is subject to rolling mechanical resistance, aerodynamic drag and wind gust. Based on Lyapunov＇s stability theory, the sufficient condition for the existence of the robust output feedback cruise control law is given in terms of linear matrix inequalities（LMIs）, under which the high-speed train tracks the desired speed, the relative spring displacement between the two neighboring cars is stable at the equilibrium state, and meanwhile a small prescribed H∞ disturbance attenuation level is guaranteed. One numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.