Application of Operational Modal Analysis on Railway Vehicles Using on Track Measurements

Abstract

Nowadays the application of experimental modal analysis techniques on railway vehicles is gaining importance. A correct identification of modal characteristics allows improving the dynamic behavior design of the vehicle and so reaching higher running speeds and accomplishing better comfort levels. So far, in the railway sector only conventional modal analysis techniques have been used. With these techniques, the modal parameters are determined during a static test by measuring the responses of the system to one or multiple known forces. This paper presents the application of the Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) technique on a railway vehicle. This technique determines the modal parameters employing only the responses of the system to an unknown excitation. In this way, the data to be used can be acquired during on track test which presents three main advantages. The first one is that the nonlinear components of the suspensions are working in their normal operating condition which is difficult to achieve during a static test. The second one is that the wheel spinning effect is taken into account. Finally, the test can be combined with other type of track tests, reducing the period of time before delivery of the vehicle to the client. In the case under study, the OMA technique is applied by means of commercial software to measurements performed on a passengers train. The modal parameters obtained for the carbody and one of the bogies are presented.