Keywords: multi-body system dynamics, railroad vehicle simulation, trajectory coordinate system, track preprocessor, eigenvalue analysis, railroad track flexibility.

This paper describes a particular formulation based on the trajectory coordinate system (TCS) approach, which is specific to ground vehicles. The formulation possesses as a special feature the use of a single TCS for all the bodies composing the vehicle. The kinematic description of an arbitrary body as well as the expressions for bodies’ absolute translational and rotational velocities and accelerations are developed. Examples of the calculations of external forces when using a single TCS are presented and the obtaining of Newton-Euler equations in terms of generalized coordinates is explained. The suitability of the TCS to achieve some interesting outcomes, such as performing eigenvalue analysis and the consideration of the flexibility of the track, is highlighted in the text. Numerical results regarding a wheel-set and a wagon, moving on straight, spiral and curve stretches, are presented.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to IJRT
purchase this issue (price £70 +P&P)