Author(s)

M. Miwa & A. Yoshimura

Abstract

It is important when studying vehicle-track dynamic interactions to make clear the characteristics of many physical and/or structural parameters of a track. However, it is difficult to estimate them with accuracy only through measurements under a real train load on site. In this paper, we describe an approach using two tools of a test facility and computer simulation. The Track and Structural Dynamics Simulator (TRADYS) is a unique mechanical vibration exciter equipped with hydraulic actuators between a train and a track. The train has the same masses and suspensions as the latest Japanese high speed railway vehicle. We can control arbitrarily the vertical relative displacements between rails and wheels through the directions inputted to the actuator. These relative displacements are supposed to represent a railway track irregularity. In the experiments, dynamic wheel loads, displacements and accelerations of each part of a track are measured as the outputs. In addition to the experiments, computer simulation is carried out. A theoretical model for this special test facility including the actuator is constructed. In this paper the measured physical values and computed solutions are compared, and the accuracy of the parameter values of the track structure components is discussed. Keywords: vehicle-track interaction, dynamic model, test facility, computer simulation, parameter estimation.

Keywords

vehicle-track interaction, dynamic model, test facility, computer simulation, parameter estimation.