Keywords: transition curve, critical velocity, numerical simulation, vehicle dynamics, self-exciting vibrations, non-linear dynamics.

This paper presents the results of a study of the influence of different parameters (curve radius, velocity, initial conditions) on the dynamics of two and four-axle railway vehicles in a transition curve (TC) for velocities above critical one. The rail vehicle models of a 25TN two-axle bogie of a freight car of sixteen degrees of freedom and model of a passenger four-axle coach MK111 of thirty-eight degrees of freedom were used. In the performed simulation studies the routes always consisted of straight track, transition curve and circular arc. The transition curve was always of third degree parabola type. The range of radius of the circular arcs adjacent to the TCs ranged from from 300 to 10000 m for the 25TN bogie and from 600 to 6000 m for the MK111 coach. The results of computer simulations presented in the paper are lateral, vertical, roll and yaw displacements and angles for the bogie and lateral displacements of the wheelsets and bogie frames for the coach. The results presented are part of wider studies on the dynamic properties of railway vehicles in TCs at velocities higher than critical.

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