Influence of quick release valve on braking performance and coupler force of heavy haul train

We establish a simulation model based on the theory of air flow to analyze the accelerated release effect of the quick release valve inside the air brake control valve.In addition, the combined simulation system of train air brake system and longitudinal train dynamics is used to analyze how the parameters of the quick release valve in the 120/120–1 brake control valve affect the propagation characteristics of the train brake pipe pressure wave, the release action range of the accelerated brake, and the longitudinal coupler force for a 20,000-ton heavy haul train on the section of the Datong–Qinhuangdao Railway. The results show that the quick release valve can effectively accelerate the rising speed of the train brake pipe pressure during the initial release, as the accelerated release effect is evident before the train brake pipe pressure reaches582 k Pa. The quick release valve can effectively accelerate the release of the rear cars, reducing the longitudinal coupler force impact due to time delay of the release process. The quick release valve can effectively reduce the tensile coupler force in the train by as much as 20% in certain cases.

Can Quick Release Experiments Reveal the Muscle Structure？ A Bionic Approach

The goal of this study was to understand the macroscopic mechanical structure and function of biological muscle with respect to its dynamic role in the contraction. A recently published muscle model, deriving the hyperbolic force-velocity relation from first-order mechanical principles, predicts different force-velocity operating points for different load situations. With a new approach, this model could be simplified and thus, transferred into a numerical simulation and a hardware experiment. Two types of quick release experiments were performed in simulation and with the hardware setup, which represent two extreme cases of the contraction dynamics： against a constant force （isotonic） and against an inertial mass. Both experiments revealed hyperbolic or hyperbolic-like force-velocity relations. Interestingly, the analytical model not only predicts these extreme cases, but also additionally all contraction states in between. It was possible to validate these predictions with the numerical model and the hardware experiment. These results prove that the origin of the hyperbolic force-velocity relation can be mechanically explained on a macroscopic level by the dynamical interaction of three mechanical elements. The implications for the interpretation of biological muscle experiments and the realization of muscle-like bionic actuators are discussed.