scholarly journals Modelling of the shape of railway transition curves from the point of view of passenger comfort

2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-217
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Zboiński ◽  
Piotr Woźnica ◽  
Yaroslav Bolzhelarskyi
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Transition Curve ◽  
Optimum Shape ◽  
Railway Vehicle ◽  
Vehicle Model ◽  
Circular Arc ◽  
Passenger Comfort ◽  
Rail Vehicle ◽  
Transition Curves

In the past, railway transition curves were not used. Instead of it, a simple connection of the straight track and circular arc was applied. Nowadays, such simplicity is not allowed due to the increasing vehicle operating velocities. It is mainly visible in the high-speed train lines, where long curves are used. The article aims to develop a new shape of railway transition curves for which passenger travel comfort will be as high as possible. Considerations in this paper concern the polynomials of 9th- and 11th-degrees, which were adopted to the mathematical model of the mentioned shape of curves. The study's authors applied a 2-axle rail vehicle model combined with mathematically understood optimisation methods. The advanced vehicle model can better assign the dynamical properties of railway transition curves to freight and passenger vehicles. The mentioned model was adopted to simulate rail vehicle movement in both cases of the shape of transition curves and the shape of circular arc (for comparison of the results). Passenger comfort, described by European Standard EN 12299, was used as the assessment criterion. The work showed that the method using the 2-axle railway vehicle model combined with mathematically understood optimisation works correctly, and the optimisation of the transition curve shape is possible. The current study showed that the 3rd-degree parabola (the shape of the curve traditionally used in railway engineering) is not always the optimum shape. In many cases (especially for the long curves), the optimum shape of curves is between the standard transition curves and the linear curvature of the 3rd-degree parabola. The new shapes of the railway transition curves obtained when the passenger comfort is taken into account result in new railway transition curves shapes. In the authors' opinion, the results presented in the current work are a novelty in optimisation and the properties assessment of railway transition curves.

scholarly journals Optimum Railway Transition Curves—Method of the Assessment and Results

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3995
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Zboinski ◽  
Piotr Woznica
Keyword(s):  
Optimization Methods ◽  
Transition Curve ◽  
Vehicle Model ◽  
Circular Arc ◽  
Passenger Comfort ◽  
Rail Vehicle ◽  
Railway Engineering ◽  
Transition Curves ◽  
Vehicle Movement

This article discusses the optimization of railway transition curves, through the application of polynomials of 9th and 11th degrees. In this work, the authors use a 2-axle rail vehicle model combined with mathematically understood optimization methods. This model is used to simulate rail vehicle movement negotiating both a transition curve and circular arc. Passenger comfort is applied as the criterion to assess which transition is actually is the best one. The 4-axle vehicle was also used to verify the results obtained using the 2-axle vehicle. Our results show that the traditionally used in a railway engineering transition—3rd degree parabola—which is not always the optimum curve. This fact is especially valid for the longest curves, with lengths greater than 150 m. For such cases, the transition curves similar to standard curves of 9th and 11th degrees is the optimum ones. This result is confirmed by the use of the 4-axle vehicle.

Railway transition curves and the large circular arc radii

2018 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 423-430
Author(s):  
Piotr Woźnica ◽  
Krzysztof Zboiński
Keyword(s):  
Vehicle Body ◽  
Transition Curve ◽  
Optimum Shape ◽  
Function Evaluation ◽  
Vehicle Model ◽  
Mathematical Methods ◽  
Circular Arc ◽  
Vertical Accelerations ◽  
Optimization And Simulation ◽  
Transition Curves

This work concerns the search for the optimum shape of railway transition curves (TCs). In work the authors used mathematical methods of optimization and simulation. The computer simulation concerned the dynamic behavior of the the 2-axle rail vehicle model. As the transition curve the authors adopted a polynomial of degree n, where n=9 and 11. The quality function (evaluation criterion) used concerned vertical accelerations of the vehicle body. The authors used large circular arc radii – R=3000 m and 4000 m. The aim of the research was to find the optimum shapes of the TCs, taking into account the criterion adopted and comparison of them among themselves.

On the Planning and Construction of Railway Curved Track

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sono Bhardawaj ◽  
Rakesh Chandmal Sharma ◽  
Sunil Kumar Sharma ◽  
Neeraj Sharma
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Time Derivative ◽  
Railway Track ◽  
Lateral Acceleration ◽  
Transition Curve ◽  
Railway Vehicle ◽  
Geometric Conditions ◽  
Curve Track ◽  
Curved Track ◽  
Transition Curves

Increasing demand for railway vehicle speed has pushed the railway track designers to develop high-quality track. An important measure of track quality is the character of the transition curve track connecting different intersecting straight tracks. A good transition curve track must be able to negotiate the intermittent stresses and dynamic effects caused by changes in lateral acceleration at high speed. This paper presents the constructional methods for planning transition curves considering the dynamics of movement. These methods consider the non-compensated lateral acceleration, deviation in lateral acceleration and its higher time derivatives. This paper discusses the laying methods of circular, vertical and transition curves. Key aspects in laying a curved track e.g. widening of gauge on curves are discussed in this paper. This paper also suggests a transition curve which is effective not only from a dynamic point of view considering lateral acceleration and its higher time derivative but also consider the geometric conditions along with the required deflection angle.

scholarly journals Exploring Benefits of Using Blending Splines as Transition Curves

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4226
Author(s):  
Tanita Fossli Brustad ◽  
Rune Dalmo
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Transition Curve ◽  
End Points ◽  
Circular Arc ◽  
Track Geometry ◽  
Railway Construction ◽  
Spline Curves ◽  
High Speed Trains ◽  
Transition Curves

Track geometry is a fundamental subject in railway construction. With the demand for increased capacity in terms of load and speed, the need for suitable transitions between consecutive track sections is highly relevant. Properly constructed transition curves lead to improved travel comfort, increased safety, and reduced wear. The well known clothoid curve is widely used as a transition curve; however, the linear curvature is not sufficiently smooth to meet the requirements for railways carrying high speed trains or heavy hauls. Blending spline curves are flexible spline constructions possessing favourable smoothness properties at the end points, which makes them considerable for use as transition curves. This paper demonstrates some selected blending splines applied as transition curves between two existing circular arc segments selected from the Ofotbanen railway. The main results in this paper are related to the smoothness at the end points and the behaviour of the curvature of the curves, where the new transition curves were shown to be smoother than the original clothoid. Another new result is the observation that the proposed method allows for the improvement of existing railways without forcing extensive changes to the original track. Some representative examples are included to highlight the flexibility of this first instance of blending splines as transition curves.

scholarly journals Smoothed transition curve for railways

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (7) ◽  
pp. 19-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Władysław Koc
Keyword(s):  
Final Section ◽  
Initial Section ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Railway Track ◽  
Transition Curve ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Circular Arc ◽  
New Form ◽  
Transition Curves

The work draws attention to the existing situation in the area of transition curves used in the geometric layouts of the railway track. Difficulties in the practical implementation and maintenance of very small horizontal ordinates of the transition curve and the ordinates of the gradient due to cant in the initial section, appearing on smooth transition curves, were indicated. The main reason for this situation was the excessive smoothing of the curvature in their initial section. Employing the method of curvature identification by differential equations, a new form of the curve was obtained, which was referred to as the "smoothed transition curve". A definite advantage of this curve was shown, from the implementation point of view, over representing the smooth transition curves of the Bloss curve. . It seems that it could successfully compete with the commonly used clothoid, to which it is similar in the initial section, while it differs significantly along its further length, especially in the final section, where it provides a gentle entry from the transition curve into a circular arc.

Development of a reduced dynamic model for comfort evaluation of rail vehicle systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 230 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mortadha Graa ◽  
Mohamed Nejlaoui ◽  
Ajmi Houidi ◽  
Zouhaier Affi ◽  
Lotfi Romdhane
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Model ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Railway Vehicle ◽  
Passenger Comfort ◽  
Rail Vehicle ◽  
Vehicle System ◽  
Comfort Evaluation ◽  
Complex Models ◽  
Reduced Dynamic

In this paper, an analytical reduced dynamic model of a rail vehicle system is developed. This model considers only 38 degrees of freedom of the rail vehicle system. This reduced model can predict the dynamic behaviour of the rail vehicle while being simpler than existing dynamic models. The developed model is validated using experimental results found in the bibliography and its results are compared with existing more complex models from the literature. The developed model is used for the passenger comfort evaluation, which is based on the value of the weighted root mean square acceleration according to the ISO 2631 standard. Several parameters of the system, i.e., passenger position, loading of the railway vehicle and its speed, and their effect on the passenger comfort are investigated. It was shown that the level of comfort is mostly affected by the speed of the railway vehicle and the position of the seat. The load, however, did not have a significant effect on the level of comfort of the passenger.

scholarly journals Technical parameters of high speed lines as the determinant for selection of rolling stock

2018 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 06007
Author(s):  
Jan Raczyński
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Rolling Stock ◽  
High Speed Rail ◽  
Technical Parameters ◽  
Rail Vehicle ◽  
Railway Infrastructure ◽  
The One ◽  
Selection Of

Choosing a high-speed rail vehicle depends on many factors. On the one hand, there are requirements for ensuring the quality of service for passengers, on the other hand, there are constraints resulting from the parameters of available infrastructure. Also a relation of the benefit and financial costs associated with the purchase and the operation of rolling stock is essential. Technical characteristics of vehicles selected for operating a particular system is a compromise between the three groups of requirements. In this article technical parameters of railway infrastructure and rolling stock are classified and then analysed from the TSI requirements point of view.

Effect of Track Geometry and Rail Vehicle Suspension on Passenger Comfort in Curves and Transitions

1977 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 841-848
Author(s):  
G. R. Doyle ◽  
M. A. Thomet
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Rolling Stock ◽  
Vehicle Suspension ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Area Formula ◽  
Passenger Comfort ◽  
Track Geometry ◽  
Rail Vehicle ◽  
Current Area ◽  
Six Degree Of Freedom

Passenger comfort is an important constraint on high-speed operation in curves and transitions. The effect of track geometry and vehicle suspension characteristics on passenger comfort were investigated with a six-degree-of-freedom, time domain simulation of the car body dynamics. The rail vehicle was simulated at constant speed on transitions and curves to generate acceleration profiles at a passenger’s seat location. The main conclusion of this study is that modern rolling stock can negotiate curves at a higher unbalanced superelevation than is recommended in the current AREA formula without exceeding passenger comfort standards. Also, the minimum spiral lengths as determined by the AREA formula are adequate for passenger cars with stiff roll characteristics, such as the Metroliner vehicles.

scholarly journals Optimisation of polynomial railway transition curves of even degrees

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Zboiński ◽  
Piotr Woźnica
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Software ◽  
Lateral Acceleration ◽  
Vehicle Body ◽  
Railway Vehicle ◽  
Vehicle Model ◽  
Vehicle Simulation ◽  
Optimisation Methods ◽  
Advanced Model ◽  
Transition Curves

This paper represents new results obtained by its authors while searching for the proper shape of polynomial railway transition curves (TCs). The search for the proper shape means the evaluation of the curve properties based on chosen dynamical quantities and generation of such shape with use of mathematically understood optimisation methods. The studies presented now and in the past always had got a character of the numerical tests. For needs of this work advanced vehicle model, dynamical track-vehicle and vehicle-passenger interactions, and optimisation methods were exploited. In this software complete rail vehicle model of 2-axle freight car, the track discrete model, and non-linear description od wheel-rail contact are used. That part of the software, being vehicle simulation software, is combined with library optimisation procedures into the final computer programme. The main difference between this and previous papers by the authors are the degrees of examinated polynomials. Previously they tested polynomial curves of odd degrees, now they focus on TCs of 6th, 8th and 10th degrees with and without curvature and superelevation ramp tangence in the TC’s terminal points. Possibility to take account of fundamental demands (corresponding values of curvature in terminal points) concerning TC should be preserved. Results of optimisation are compared both among themselves and with 3rd degree parabola. The aim of present article is to find the polynomial TCs’ optimum shapes which are determined by the possible polynomial configurations. Only one dynamical quantities being the results of simulation of railway vehicle advanced model is exploited in the determination of quality function (QF1). This is: minimum of integral of vehicle body lateral acceleration.

scholarly journals Benefits of mechatronically guided vehicles on railway track switches

2018 ◽  
Vol 234 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabilah Farhat ◽  
Christopher P Ward ◽  
Roger Dixon ◽  
Roger M Goodall
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Railway Track ◽  
Ride Quality ◽  
Switching Function ◽  
Vehicle Model ◽  
Rail Vehicle ◽  
Rail Vehicles ◽  
Conventional Rail ◽  
Multi Body

Conventional rail vehicles struggle to optimally satisfy the different suspension requirements for various track profiles, such as on a straight track with stochastic irregularities, curved track or switches and crossings, whereas mechatronically guided railway vehicles promise a large advantage over conventional vehicles in terms of reduced wheel–rail wear, improved guidance and opening new possibilities in vehicle architecture. Previous research in this area has looked into guidance and steering using multi-body simulation models of mechatronic rail vehicles of three different mechanical configurations – secondary yaw control, actuated solid-axle wheelset and driven independently rotating wheelsets (DIRW). The DIRW vehicle showed the best performance in terms of reduced wear and minimal flange contact and is therefore chosen in this paper for studying the behaviour of mechatronically guided rail vehicles on conventional switches and crossings. In the work presented here, a mechatronic vehicle with the DIRW configuration is run on moderate and high-speed track switches. The longer term motivation is to perform the switching function from on-board the vehicle as opposed to from the track as is done conventionally. As a first step towards this, the mechatronic vehicle model is compared against a conventional rail vehicle model on two track scenarios – a moderate speed C type switch and a high-speed H switch. A multi-body simulation software is used to produce a high fidelity model of an active rail vehicle with independently rotating wheelsets where each wheel has an integrated ‘wheelmotor’. This work demonstrates the theory that mechatronic rail vehicles could be used on conventional switches and crossings. The results show that the mechatronic vehicle gives a significant reduction in wear, reduced flange contact and improved ride quality on the through routes of both moderate and high-speed switches. On the diverging routes, the controller can be tuned to achieve minimal flange contact and improved ride quality at the expense of higher creep forces and wear.

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