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Critical speed of high-speed trains considering wheel-rail contact

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Abstract

The maximum speed of a high-speed train is limited to its critical speed. In this study, the definition of critical speed is reviewed. The relationship between creepage and creep force and the effects of the parameters of the first and second suspension systems are also studied using a bogie model to increase the critical speed. Kalker’s linear creep theory and its modification of Wormey’s saturation constant are reviewed. The nonlinear creep force of Vermeulen’s creep theory, Polach’s calculation, and the newly calculated longitudinal and lateral creep forces using strip theory from wheel-rail contact pressure are investigated for the critical speed. Flange contact is also considered when lateral displacement exceeds the dead band between wheel flange and rail. Direct numerical integration and a shooting algorithm are devised to calculate the response, especially for the limit cycle. Results show that as speed increases, the equilibrium point becomes unstable and creates a limit cycle through a Hopf bifurcation. The unstable fixed point can be a critical speed. The critical speed increases as the creep curve becomes stiff before saturation, which is more effective than the variation in suspension parameters. The consideration of flange contact can also increase the critical speed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 300 Chunchun-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Kyunggi-do, 440-746, Korea

    Yeon-Sun Choi & Bum-Sik Shin

Authors
  1. Yeon-Sun Choi
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  2. Bum-Sik Shin
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Correspondence to Yeon-Sun Choi.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Eung-Soo Shin

Yeon-Sun Choi received his B.S. degree from Seoul National University in 1976, his M.S. degree from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in 1978, and his Ph.D. degrees from Texas A&M University, U.S.A, in 1997. He was vice president of the Korean Society for Railway and the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering, as well as president of the Dynamics and Control Division of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is currently a professor at School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea. His research interests are nonlinear vibration and fault diagnosis of mechanical systems.

Bum Sik Shin received his B.S. degree from Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea, in 2005 and his M.S. degree from Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea, in 2007. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea. His current research interests include vibration reduction for high speed electric multiple units under development and the structural characteristics of railway vehicle floors.

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Choi, YS., Shin, BS. Critical speed of high-speed trains considering wheel-rail contact. J Mech Sci Technol 29, 4593–4600 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-1004-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-1004-2

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