A Simplified Yaw Damper Model for Use in Dynamics Simulation

Abstract

A simplified physical model of a high-speed train yaw damper is developed which has the ability to reproduce its dynamic performance with less computational efforts. It is then suitably validated with experimental results considering static and dynamic conditions. At last, comparisons of vehicle dynamics relevant to vehicle stability are carried out, by integrating the proposed model and conventional Maxwell model into a three dimensional MBS model of a high-speed railway vehicle. In the case of low conicity, the proposed model and Maxwell model show good consistency. This is because the F-D characteristics of the proposed model approximately follow an elliptical and symmetry shape in low excitation frequencies, like the Maxwell model. However, in the case of high conicity, vehicle dynamics are quite different comparing the two damper models. This is because the F-D characteristics of the damper studied in this paper are nonlinear and asymmetrical in high excitation frequencies, and cannot be described by the elliptical and symmetry characteristics of the Maxwell model. It is concluded that the proposed model could be used to study the dynamics of railway vehicle under various operating conditions.