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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Theoretical research and experimental validation of quasi-static load spectra on bogie frame structures of high-speed trains

One of the major problems in structural fatigue life analysis is establishing structural load spectra under actual operating conditions.This study conducts theoretical research and experimental validation of quasi-static load spectra on bogie frame structures of high-speed trains.The quasistatic load series that corresponds to quasi-static deformation modes are identified according to the structural form and bearing conditions of high-speed train bogie frames.Moreover,a force-measuring frame is designed and manufactured based on the quasi-static load series.The load decoupling model of the quasi-static load series is then established via calibration tests.Quasi-static load–time histories,together with online tests and decoupling analysis,are obtained for the intermediate range of the Beijing—Shanghai dedicated passenger line.The damage consistency calibration of the quasi-static discrete load spectra is performed according to a damage consistency criterion and a genetic algorithm.The calibrated damage that corresponds with the quasi-static discrete load spectra satisfies the safety requirements of bogie frames.

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.

Experimental study on aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed train on viaducts in turbulent crosswinds

In this study, experiments were carried out to investigate aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed train on viaducts in turbulent crosswinds using a 1:25 scaled sectional model wind-tunnel testing. Pressure measurements of two typical sections, one train-head section and one train-body section, at the windward and leeward tracks were conducted under the smooth and turbulence flows with wind attack angles between-6° and 6°, and the corresponding aerodynamic force coefficients were also calculated using the integral method. The experimental results indicate that the track position affects the mean aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle, especially for the train-body section. The fluctuating pressure coefficients at the leeward track are more significantly affected by the bridge interference compared to those at the windward track. The effect of turbulence on the train-head section is less than that on the train-body section. Additionally, the mean aerodynamic force coefficients are almost negatively correlated to wind attack angles, which is more prominent for vehicles at the leeward track. Moreover, the lateral force plays a critical role in determining the corresponding overturning moment, especially on the train-body section.

Numerical investigation of influence of pantograph parameters and train length on aerodynamic drag of high-speed train

This study investigates the influence of different pantograph parameters and train length on the aerodynamic drag of high-speed train by the delayed detached eddy simulation(DDES) method. The train geometry considered is the high-speed train with pantographs, and the different versions have 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 17 cars. The numerical results are verified by the wind tunnel test with 3.6% difference. The influences of the number of cars and the position, quantity and configuration of pantographs on flow field around high-speed train and wake vortices are analyzed. The aerodynamic drag of middle cars gradually decreases along the flow direction. The aerodynamic drag of pantographs decreases with its backward shift, and that of the first pantograph decreases significantly. As the number of pantographs increases, its effect on the aerodynamic drag decrease of rear cars is more significant. The engineering application equation for the aerodynamic drag of high-speed train with pantographs is proposed. For the 10-car and 17-car train, the differences of total aerodynamic drag between the equation and the simulation results are 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively. The equation generalized in this study could well guide the design phase of high-speed train.

Effect of landform on aerodynamic performance of high-speed trains in cutting under cross wind

The effects of the different landforms of the cutting leeward on the aerodynamic performance of high-speed trains were analyzed based on the three-dimensional, steady, and incompressible Navier-Stokes equation and k-e double-equation turbulent model. Results show that aerodynamic forces increase with the cutting leeward slope decreasing. The maximum adding value of lateral force, lift force, and overturning moment are 147%, 44.3%, and 107%, respectively, when the slope varies from 0.67 to -0.67, and the changes in the cutting leeward landform have more effects on the aerodynamic performance when the train is running in the line No. 2 than in the line No. 1. The aerodynamic forces, except the resistance force, sharply increase with the slope depth decreasing. By comparing the circumstance of the cutting depth H=-8 m with that of H=8 m, the resistance force, lateral force, lift force, and overturning moment increase by 26.0%, 251%, 67.3% and 177%, respectively. With the wind angle increasing, the resistance force is nonmonotonic, whereas other forces continuously rise. Under three special landforms, the changes in the law of aerodynamic forces with the wind angle are almost similar to one another.

An improved algorithm for fluid-structure interaction of high-speed trains under crosswind

Based on the train-track coupling dynamics and high-speed train aerodynamics, this paper deals with an improved algorithm for fluid-structure interaction of high-speed trains. In the algorithm, the data communication between fluid solver and structure solver is avoided by inserting the program of train-track coupling dynamics into fluid dynamics program, and the relaxation factor concerning the load boundary of the fluid-structure interface is introduced to improve the fluctuation and convergence of aerodynamic forces. With this method, the fluid-structure dynamics of a highspeed train are simulated under the condition that the velocity of crosswind is 13.8 m/s and the train speed is 350 km/h. When the relaxation factor equals 0.5, the fluctuation of aerodynamic forces is lower and its convergence is faster than in other cases. The side force and lateral displacement of the head train are compared between off-line simulation and co-simulation. Simulation results show that the fluid-structure interaction has a significant influence on the aerodynam- ics and attitude of the head train under crosswind conditions. In addition, the security indexes of the head train worsen after the fluid-structure interaction calculation. Therefore, the fluid-structure interaction calculation is necessary for high-speed trains.

Effect of simplifying bogie regions on aerodynamic performance of high-speed train

An investigation of the effect of simplifying bogie regions on the aerodynamic performance of a high-speed train was carried out by studying four train models,to explore possible ways to optimise the train underbody structure,improve the underbody aerodynamic performance,and reduce the aerodynamic drag.The shear stress transport(SST)k-ωturbulence model was used to study the airflow features of the high-speed train with different bogie regions at Re=2.25×10^(6).The calculated aerodynamic drag and surface pressure were compared with the experimental benchmark of wind tunnel tests.The results show that the SST k-ωmodel presents high accuracy in predicting the flow fields around the train,and the numerical results closely agree with the experimental data.Compared with the train with simplified bogies,the aerodynamic drag of the train with a smooth surface and the train with enclosed bogie cavities/inter-carriage gaps decreases by 38.2%and 30.3%,respectively,while it increases by 10.8%for the train with cavities but no bogies.Thus,enclosing bogie cavities shows a good capability of aerodynamic drag reduction for a new generation of highspeed trains.

Aerodynamic noise characteristics of high-speed train foremost bogie section

This paper investigates the main scale analysis of the aerodynamic noise in the foremost bogie area by the large-eddy simulation(LES)and the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings(FW-H)analogy.The mechanism of the aerodynamic noise in this area has been excavated.The aerodynamic excitation results show that the bogie divides the bogie compartment into two cavities,each of which contains a large circulating flow and presents multi-peak characteristics in the frequency domain.The far-field noise results suggest that in the speed range of 200−350 km/h,the aerodynamic noise mechanism in the bogie area is the same.Cavity noise is the main noise mechanism in the foremost bogie area,and the bogie divides the bogie cabin into two cavities,thereby changing the aerodynamic noise in this area.

Effect of ambient wind on pressure wave generated by high-speed train entering a tunnel

Using three-dimensional, unsteady N-S equations and k-ε turbulence model, the effect of ambient wind on the pressure wave generated by a high-speed train entering a tunnel was studied via numerical simulation. Pressure changes of the train surface and tunnel wall were obtained as well as the flow field around the train. Results show that when the train runs downwind, the pressure change is smaller than that generated when there is no wind. When the train runs upwind, the pressure change is larger. The pressure change is more sensitive in the upwind condition than in the downwind condition. Compared with no wind condition, when the wind velocity is 10 m/s and 30 m/s, the pressure amplitude on the train head is reduced by 2.8% and 10.5%, respectively. The wall pressure amplitude at 400 m away from the tunnel entrance is reduced by 2.4% and 13.5%, respectively. When the wind velocity is-10 m/s and-30 m/s, the pressure amplitude on the train head increases by 3.0% and 17.7%, respectively. The wall pressure amplitude at 400 m away from the tunnel entrance increases by 3.6% and 18.6%, respectively. The pressure waveform slightly changes under ambient wind due to the influence of ambient wind on the pressure wave propagation speed.

Influence of enlarged section parameters on pressure transients of high-speed train passing through a tunnel

The influence of enlarged section parameters on pressure transients of high-speed train passing through a tunnel was investigated by numerical simulation.The calculation results obtained by the structured and unstructured grid and the experimental results of smooth wall tunnel were verified.Numerical simulation studies were conducted on three tunnel enlarged section parameters,the enlarged section distribution along circumferential direction,the enlarged section area and the enlarged section distribution along tunnel length direction.The calculation results show that the influence of the different enlarged section distributions along tunnel circumferential direction on pressure transients in the tunnel is basically consistent.There is an optimal enlarged section area for the minimum value of the pressure variation amplitude and the average pressure variation in the tunnel.The law of the pressure variation amplitude and the average pressure variation of the enlarged section distribution along tunnel length direction are obtained.

Sound Source Localisation for a High-Speed Train and Its Transfer Path to Interior Noise

Noise is one of the key issues in the operation of high-speed railways, with sound source localisation and its transfer path as the two major aspects. This study investigates both the exterior and interior sound source distribution of a high-speed train and presents a method for performing the contribution analysis of airborne sound with regard to the interior noise. First, both exterior and interior sound source locations of the high-speed train are identified through in-situ measurements. Second, the sound source contribution for di erent regions of the train and the relationships between the exterior and interior noises are analysed. Third, a method for conducting the contribution analysis of airborne sound with regard to the interior noise of the high-speed train is described. Lastly, a case study on the sidewall area is carried out, and the contribution of airborne sound to the interior noise of this area is obtained. The results show that, when the high-speed train runs at 310 km/h, dominant exterior sound sources are located in the bogie and pantograph regions, while main interior sound sources are located at the sidewall and roof. The interior noise, the bogie area noise and the sound source at the middle of the coach exhibit very similar rates of increase with increasing train speed. For the selected sidewall area, structure-borne sound dominates in most of the 1/3 octave bands.