Analysis of railway level crossing accident using numerical simulations (Study of crash safety evaluation for railway vehicles)

Abstract The paper focuses on the influence of the longitudinal and lateral suspension damping in correlation with the velocity upon the vibration behaviour of the railway vehicles while moving on a tangent track. The numerical simulations are developed based on a linear model of a 17-degree of freedom vehicle that allows the evaluation of the dynamic behaviour of the vehicle in a sub-critical velocity. Based on the response frequency functions of the vehicle in a harmonic and in a random behaviour, a series of basic properties of the stable behaviour of the forced lateral vibrations has been made evident, as well as the opportunities to lower the level of the carbody vibrations by changing the suspension damping.

Download Full-text

Necessity and conditionality regarding the electromagnetic track brake - parametric study

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/201817806020 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 178 ◽

pp. 06020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cătălin Cruceanu ◽

Camil Crăciun

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulations ◽

Parametric Study ◽

Forward Movement ◽

Speed Limits ◽

Signalling System ◽

Railway Vehicles ◽

Passenger Vehicles

The paper explores the speed limits requiring additional braking systems independent of rail/wheel adhesion. Regarding the electromagnetic track brake (MTB), conditions to achieve the safety traffic requirements for stopping distances and decelerations are investigated by means of numerical simulations. The computing program integrates the movement equation of the vehicle, taking into account weight, resistance to forward movement, etc. The study is performed for 40...60 t four axles passenger vehicles and it was considered a speed domain of 160...300 km/h. The results indicate that deceleration requirements are an important limitative parameter for constructive top speeds of railway vehicles. For velocities higher than 210...230 km/h, the braking distances exceed the possibility of running under conventional signalling system.

Download Full-text

Study on Improving the Ride Comfort in Railway Vehicles Using Anti-Bending Dampers

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.880.207 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 880 ◽

pp. 207-212 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mădălina Dumitriu

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulations ◽

Ride Comfort ◽

Railway Vehicle ◽

Vehicle Model ◽

Bending Vibrations ◽

Bending Vibration ◽

Type Method ◽

Railway Vehicles

The paper researches the possibility to reduce the bending vibrations in the railway vehicle carbody and to improve the ride comfort via a new passive type method. This would involve the fitting of the vehicle with dampers, called anti-bending dampers, fixed to the longitudinal beams of a carbody underframe. The efficiency of this method is made visible in the results derived from numerical simulations developed on the basis of a rigid-flexible coupled vehicle model. The introduction of the anti-bending dampers is seen as a significant reduction in the bending vibration of the carbody. Similarly, a relevant improvement of the ride comfort at the centre of the carbody, at high velocities. This efficiency mainly depends on the damping constant of the anti-bending damper.

Download Full-text

Correlation between Ride Comfort Index and Sperling's Index for Evaluation Ride Comfort in Railway Vehicles

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.880.201 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 880 ◽

pp. 201-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mădălina Dumitriu ◽

Mihai Leu

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulations ◽

Critical Points ◽

Reference Point ◽

Ride Comfort ◽

Dynamic Performance ◽

Railway Vehicles ◽

Comfort Index ◽

Index Methods ◽

Comfort Indices

Ride comfort is a reference point in evaluating the dynamic performance in railway vehicles. There are more methods to assess the ride comfort, depending on the traffic details and the specific needs of a railway administration. This paper focuses on the comfort index methods, in accordance with UIC Leaflet 513 R and the standard of railway applications ENV 12299, and the ride Sperling’s method, formulated by Sperling. A correlation is drawn between the comfort indices corresponding to the two methods, based on the link between the comfort and the values of these indices. The comfort indices derived from the two methods by numerical simulations help with validating the fact that, in general, the velocity influences the vertical ride comfort, and, in particular, the position of the carbody critical points, from the perspective of the ride comfort.

Download Full-text

Effects of Mechanical Wheel Slide Protection Devices Action on Railway Vehicles Braking Process

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.809-810.1085 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 809-810 ◽

pp. 1085-1090 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Cătălin Cruceanu ◽

Camil Ion Crăciun ◽

Ioan Cristian Cruceanu

Keyword(s):

Cast Iron ◽

Numerical Simulations ◽

High Power ◽

Air Pressure ◽

Simulation Program ◽

Disc Brake ◽

Railway Vehicles ◽

Protection Devices ◽

Braking Process ◽

Brake Cylinder

The paper investigates the effects of mechanical wheel slide protection devices (WSPD) on the braking capacity for coaches equipped with disc or cast iron block brakes. Decelerations and jerks, that affect the passengers comfort, are also analyzed. An original simulation program, based on experimentally determined air pressure evolutions in brake cylinder is used for this purpose. Results of numerical simulations show that in the case of repeated actuations of mechanical WSPDs, disc brake vehicles are more affected in terms of braking capacity. Regarding jerks during braking actions, in both normal and low adhesion conditions, vehicles equipped with high power cast iron block brake with two pressure levels prove to be more affected.

Download Full-text

J181021 Feasibility Study on Following Control of Railway Vehicles Through Numerical Simulations

The Proceedings of Mechanical Engineering Congress Japan ◽

10.1299/jsmemecj.2013._j181021-1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 (0) ◽

pp. _J181021-1-_J181021-4

Author(s):

Kimihiko NAKANO ◽

Shu WAKABAYASHI

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulations ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Railway Vehicles

Download Full-text

NOISE-INDUCED TRANSMISSION OF SIGNALS THROUGH A CHAIN OF LEVEL-CROSSING DETECTORS

Fluctuation and Noise Letters ◽

10.1142/s0219477503001051 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 03 (01) ◽

pp. L11-L22 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

NOBUKO FUCHIKAMI ◽

TOSHIFUMI SAKAGUCHI

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulations ◽

Decay Time ◽

Signal Transmission ◽

Decay Length ◽

Level Crossing ◽

One Dimensional ◽

Signal Decay ◽

Periodic Signals ◽

A Chain ◽

Analytical Expressions

We study noise-assisted propagation of periodic signals for one-dimensional arrays composed of one-way coupled level-crossing detectors (LCD). Analytical expressions are obtained for the signal decay length through chains and the signal decay time through rings, where noise is uncorrelated so that the signal transmission from a LCD to the neighboring one is Markovian. Recent numerical simulations for one-dimensional arrays of one-way coupled bistable oscillators are discussed in comparison to the present analytical results.

Download Full-text