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.

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.

A discussion about the limitations of the Eurocode’s high-speed load model for railway bridges

High-speed railway bridges are subjected to normative limitations concerning maximum permissible deck accelerations.For the design of these structures,the European norm EN 1991-2 introduces the high-speed load model(HSLM)—a set of point loads intended to include the effects of existing high-speed trains.Yet,the evolution of current trains and the recent development of new load models motivate a discussion regarding the limits of validity of the HSLM.For this study,a large number of randomly generated load models of articulated,conventional,and regular trains are tested and compared with the envelope of HSLM effects.For each type of train,two sets of 100,000 load models are considered:one abiding by the limits of the EN 1991-2 and another considering wider limits.This comparison is achieved using both a bridge-independent metric(train signatures)and dynamic analyses on a case study bridge(the Canelas bridge of the Portuguese Railway Network).For the latter,a methodology to decrease the computational cost of moving loads analysis is introduced.Results show that some theoretical load models constructed within the stipulated limits of the norm can lead to effects not covered by the HSLM.This is especially noted in conventional trains,where there is a relation with larger distances between centres of adjacent vehicle bogies.

Research on fatigue evaluation method of high-speed train axle based on axle box acceleration

As a key safety component of the high-speed train, fatigue fracture of the axle would lead to major accidents such as derailment or overturning. The complexity of the axle dynamic stress test seriously enhances the difficulty of axle fatigue damage analysis. In this paper, the dynamic stress test of the high-speed train axle was carried out,the axle box acceleration was monitored on-track during the test, and the relationship between the axle stress spectrum and acceleration was analyzed on-track. The results show that the relationships between the axle equivalent stresses and the Root Mean Square(RMS) values of the axle box vertical acceleration and lateral acceleration exhibit a strong joint probability density distribution. The concept of the virtual surface density of wheel-rail contact is also proposed to realize the purpose of using axle box acceleration to deduce axle equivalent force. The results quantify the relationship between axle box acceleration and axle equivalent force, provide a new method for predicting the axle damage using the acceleration RMS values, and open up a new approach for structural health monitoring of high-speed train axles.

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.

Influence of pantograph fixing position on aerodynamic characteristics of high-speed trains

To study the influence of the pantograph fixing position on aerodynamic characteristics of high-speed trains, the aerodynamic models of high-speed trains with eight cars were established based on the theory of com- putational fluid dynamics, and eight cases with pantographs fixed on different positions and in different operational orientations were considered. The pantographs were fixed on the front or the rear end of the first middle car or fixed on the front or the rear end of the last middle car. The external flow fields of the high-speed trains were numeri- cally simulated using the software STAR-CCM＋. The results show that the pantograph fixing position has little effect on the aerodynamic drag force of the head car and has a large effect on the aerodynamic drag force of the tail car. The influences of the pantograph fixing position on the aerodynamic lift forces of the head car, tail car and pan- tographs are obvious. Among the eight cases, considering the total aerodynamic drag force of the train and the aerodynamic lift force of the lifted pantograph, when the pantographs are fixed on the rear end of the last middle car and the lifted pantograph is in the knuckle-upstream ori- entation, the aerodynamic performance of the high-speed train is the best.

Methodology to Evaluate Fatigue Damage of High-Speed Train Welded Bogie Frames Based on On-Track Dynamic Stress Test Data

The current method of estimating the fatigue life of railway structures is to calculating the equivalent stress amplitude based on the measured stress data. However, the random of the measured data is not considered. In this paper, a new method was established to compute the equivalent stress amplitude to evaluate the fatigue damage based on the measurable randomness, since the equivalent stress is the key parameter for assessment of structure fatigue life and load derivation. The equivalent stress amplitude of a high-speed train welded bogie frame was found to obey normal distribution under uniform operation route that verified by on-track dynamic stress data, and the proposed model is, in effect, an improved version of the mathematical model used to calculate the equivalent stress amplitude. The data of a long-term, on-track dynamic stress test program was analyzed to find that the normal distribution parameters of equivalent stress amplitude values differ across different operation route. Thus, the fatigue damage of the high-speed train welded bogie frame can be evaluated by the proposed method if the running schedule of the train is known a priori. The results also showed that the equivalent stress amplitude of the region connected to the power system is more random than in other regions of the bogie frame.

Model tests on XCC-piled embankment under dynamic train load of high-speed railways

Piled embankments,which offer many advantages,are increasingly popular in construction of high-speed railways in China.Although the performance of piled embankment under static loading is well-known,the behavior under the dynamic train load of a high-speed railway is not yet understood.In light of this,a heavily instrumented piled embankment model was set up,and a model test was carried out,in which a servo-hydraulic actuator outputting M-shaped waves was adopted to simulate the process of a running train.Earth pressure,settlement,strain in the geogrid and pile and excess pore water pressure were measured.The results show that the soil arching height under the dynamic train load of a high-speed railway is shorter than under static loading.The growth trend for accumulated settlement slowed down after long-term vibration although there was still a tendency for it to increase.Accumulated geogrid strain has an increasing tendency after long-term vibration.The closer the embankment edge,the greater the geogrid strain over the subsoil.Strains in the pile were smaller under dynamic train loads,and their distribution was different from that under static loading.At the same elevation,excess pore water pressure under the track slab was greater than that under the embankment shoulder.

Theoretical Research and Experimental Validation of Elastic Dynamic Load Spectra on Bogie Frame of High-speed Train

When a train runs at high speeds, the external exciting frequencies approach the natural frequencies of bogie critical components, thereby inducing strong elastic vibrations. The present international reliability test evaluation standard and design criteria of bogie frames are all based on the quasi-static deformation hypothesis. Structural fatigue damage generated by structural elastic vibrations has not yet been included. In this paper, theoretical research and experimental validation are done on elastic dynamic load spectra on bogie frame of high-speed train. The construction of the load series that correspond to elastic dynamic deformation modes is studied. The simplified form of the load series is obtained. A theory of simplified dynamic load–time histories is then deduced. Measured data from the Beijing–Shanghai Dedicated Passenger Line are introduced to derive the simplified dynamic load–time histories. The simplified dynamic discrete load spectra of bogie frame are established. Based on the damage consistency criterion and a genetic algorithm, damage consistency calibration of the simplified dynamic load spectra is finally performed. The computed result proves that the simplified load series is reasonable. The calibrated damage that corresponds to the elastic dynamic discrete load spectra can cover the actual damage at the operating conditions. The calibrated damage satisfies the safety requirement of damage consistency criterion for bogie frame. This research is helpful for investigating the standardized load spectra of bogie frame of high-speed train.

Numerical investigation on the aerodynamic characteristics of high-speed train under turbulent crosswind

Increasing velocity combined with decreasing mass of modern highspeed trains poses a question about the influence of strong crosswinds on its aerodynamics. Strong crosswinds may affect the running stability of high speed trains via the amplified aerodynamic forces and moments. In this study, a simulation of turbulent crosswind flows over the leading and end cars of ICE2 highspeed train was performed at different yaw angles in static and moving ground case scenarios. Since the train aerodynamic problems are closely associated with the flows occurring around train, the flow around the train was considered as incompressible and was obtained by solving the incom pressible form of the unsteady Reynoldsaveraged Navier Stokes （RANS） equations combined with the realizable kepsilon turbulence model. Important aerodynamic coef ficients such as the side force and rolling moment coeffi cients were calculated for yaw angles ranging from 30° to 60° and compared with the results obtained from wind tunnel test. The dependence of the flow structure on yaw angle was also presented. The nature of the flow field and its structure depicted by contours of velocity magnitude and streamline patterns along the train＇s crosssection were presented for different yaw angles. In addition, the pressure coefficient around the circumference of the train at dif ferent locations along its length was computed for yaw angles of 30° and 60°, The computed aerodynamic coef ficient outcomes using the realizable kepsilon turbulencemodel were in good agreement with the wind tunnel data. Both the side force coefficient and rolling moment coeffi cients increase steadily with yaw angle till about 50° before starting to exhibit an asymptotic behavior. Contours of velocity magnitude were also computed at different cross sections of the train along its length for different yaw angles. The result showed that magnitude of rotating vortex in the lee ward side increased with increasing yaw angle, which leads to the creation of a lowpressure region in the lee ward side of the train causing high side force and roll moment. Generally, this study shows that unsteady CFD RANS methods combined with an appropriate turbulence model can present an important means of assessing the crucial aerodynamic forces and moments of a highspeed train under strong crosswind conditions.

Novel dynamic test system for simulating high-speed train moving on bridge under earthquake excitation

China’s high-speed railways are always facing the potential damage risk induced by strong earthquakes.And the route design concept of“using bridge instead of embankment”has also greatly increased the probability of high speed trains moving on bridges when a strong earthquake happens.In the past decades,a bunch of theoretical and numerical studies have been conducted in the seismic dynamic field of high-speed railway.However,the effective dynamic test system for verifying the given method and theoretical results is still lacking.Therefore,a novel dynamic test system(DTS)consisting of a shaking table array and a train-pass-bridge reduced-scale model is proposed in this paper.Through some crucial technical problems discussion,the effectiveness of similar design scheme and the feasibility of reduced-scale DTS are elaborated,and then the detailed DTS structures are given and displayed as part-by-part.On this basis,the demonstration tests are conducted and compared with the numerical simulation.The results show that the proposed DTS is accurate and effective.Therefore,the DTS can provide a new physical simulation approach to study the high-speed train’s running safety on bridges under earthquakes and can also provide a reference for the construction of related systems.

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.

A rapid on-site calibration method for measuring dynamic envelope curve of high-speed trains

Dynamic envelope curve is a significant parameter to assess the running safety of high-speed trains.Up to now the method based on binocular stereo vision is the only way available to measure the dynamic envelope curve of a train,the speed of which is over200km/h.Nevertheless the method has two limitations,one is large field-〇f-view(FO V),the other is calibration time.Hence portable calibration equipment,easy-t〇-build target and rapid calibration algorithm are required to complete the calibration.In this paper,a new rapid on-site calibration method with large FOV based on binocular stereo vision is proposed.To address these issues,a light target has been designed,the rail coordinate system(RCS)is represented by40fixed retroreflective points on the target,and they are utilized to calibrate the parameters of two cameras.In addition,two cameras merely capture a single image of the target simultaneously,and the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the cameras can be calculated rapidly.To testify the proposed method,the experiments have been conducted and the results reveal that the accuracy can reach+1mm,which can meet the measurement requirement.

Progress in high-speed train technology around the world

This is a review of high-speed train development in the sense of technology advances all over the world. Three generations of high-speed trains are classified according to their technical characteristics and maximum operating speed. Emphasis is given to the newly developed high-speed train in China, CRH380. The theoretical foundations and future development of CRH380 are briefly discussed.

Modeling and simulation of high-speed passenger train movements in the rail line

In this paper, we propose a new formula of the real-time minimum safety headway based on the relative velocity of consecutive trains and present a dynamic model of high-speed passenger train movements in the rail line based on the proposed formula of the minimum safety headway. Moreover, we provide the control strategies of the high-speed passenger train operations based on the proposed formula of the real-time minimum safety headway and the dynamic model of highspeed passenger train movements. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control strategies of the passenger train operations can greatly reduce the delay propagation in the high-speed rail line when a random delay occurs.

Experimental study on dynamic load magnification factor for ballastless track-subgrade of high-speed railway

The magnitude of dynamic load produced by high-speed trains depends on many factors,of which train speed is the most critical one.However,it is quite difficult to determine the effect of train speed on dynamic load using the theoretical methods due to the complexity of the interaction between vehicle and track-subgrade.Thus large-scale model test has gradually become an important approach for studying dynamic responses of ballastless track-subgrade of high-speed railway.In this study,a full-scale model of ballastless track-subgrade was constructed in accordance with the design and construction standards for Shanghai-Nanjing intercity high-speed railway line firstly.Then,the dynamic strain of slab and the dynamic earth pressure of subgrade were measured by conducting single wheel axle excitation test.In addition,the relationship between the dynamic load magnification factor（DLF） and the train speed was obtained.Finally,the DLF of track-subgrade under different train speeds was proposed,similar to that given by German Railway Standard.

Characteristic analysis of mechanical thermal coupling model for bearing rotor system of high-speed train

Based on Newton’s second law and the thermal network method,a mechanical thermal coupling model of the bearing rotor system of high-speed trains is established to study the interaction between the bearing vibration and temperature.The influence of lubrication on the vibration and temperature characteristics of the system is considered in the model,and the real-time relationship between them is built up by using the transient temperature field model.After considering the lubrication,the bearing outer ring vibration acceleration and node temperature considering grease are lower,which shows the necessity of adding the lubrication model.The corresponding experiments for characteristics of vibration and temperature of the model are respectively conducted.In the envelope spectrum obtained from the simulation signal and the experimental signal,the frequency values corresponding to the peaks are close to the theoretical calculation results,and the error is very small.In the three stages of the temperature characteristic experiment,the node temperature change of the simulation model is consistent with the experiment.The good agreement between simulation and experiments proves the effectiveness of the model.By studying the influence of the bearing angular and fault size on the system node temperature,as well as the change law of bearing lubrication characteristics and temperature,it is found that the worse the working condition is,the higher the temperature is.When the ambient temperature is low,the viscosity of grease increases,and the oil film becomes thicker,which increases the sliding probability of the rolling element,thus affecting the normal operation of the bearing,which explains the phenomenon of frequent bearing faults of high-speed trains in the low-temperature area of Northeast China.Further analysis shows that faults often occur in the early stage of train operation in the low-temperature environment.

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.

Wear characteristics and prediction of wheel profiles in high-speed trains

Wheel/rail relationship is a fundamental problem of railway system. Wear of wheel profiles has great effect on vehicle performance. Thus, it is important not just for the analysis of wear characteristics but for its prediction. Actual wheel profiles of the high-speed trains on service were measured in the high-speed line and the wear characteristics were analyzed which came to the following results. The wear location was centralized from-15 mm to 25 mm. The maximum wear value appeared at the area of 5 mm from tread center far from wheel flange and it was less than 1.5 mm. Then, wheel wear was fitted to get the polynomial functions on different locations and operation mileages. A binary numerical prediction model was raised to predict wheel wear. The prediction model was proved by vehicle system dynamics and wheel/rail contact geometry. The results show that the prediction model can reflect wear characteristics of measured profiles and vehicle performances.

Numerical modelling of vibration response in loess hills due to a high-speed train on railway viaduct

In order to accurately analyze vibration characteristics and site effects of loess hills under moving load of a highspeed train,four types of loess hill models under railway viaduct was established by ABAQUS of finite element analysis software by field test.The dynamic response and stability of loess hills under two different vibration sources under high-speed train load were studied by using two-dimensional equivalent linear response timehistory analysis,and the influence of the mechanical parameters of loess on the vibration of different types of loess hill was analyzed.Results show that there are obvious differences between peak displacement cloud maps of loess hills under the railway viaduct under gravity and train load action.We analyzed the influence of the change of elastic modulus on vibration propagation of soil of foundation and loess knoll,and found that the change of elastic modulus of soil in different position of foundation has more effect on vibration propagation than that of loess knoll soil.At the same time,the vertical acceleration cloud maps of the four types of loess hills are obviously different.