Abstract
An innovative downscale test rig called V-Track has been constructed for wheel-rail contact experiments under impact loading conditions. In this paper, a force measurement system termed a dynamometer was developed in V-Track to measure the wheel-rail contact forces. The dynamometer consists of four 3-component piezoelectric force sensors and was mounted between the wheel assembly and the steel frame of V-Track, enabling it to measure the forces transmitted from the wheel-rail interface to the frame. Static tests were first carried out to calibrate the dynamometer in three directions. Then, several tests were performed in V-Track to examine the reliability and validity of the dynamometer for measuring the wheel-rail contact forces under running conditions. Experimental results show that the dynamometer is capable of reliably and accurately measuring these forces. Utilizing the measurement results from the dynamometer, the control of the wheel-rail contact forces in V-Track has also been achieved.
Highlights
Railway transport is a major means of transportation worldwide and has become increasingly popular because it is economic, safe and environmentally friendly
The dynamometer consists of four 3-component piezoelectric force sensors and was mounted between the wheel assembly and the steel frame of V-Track, enabling it to measure the forces transmitted from the wheel-rail interface to the frame
This paper describes the development of a force measurement system in the dynamometer category in a downscale V-Track apparatus for measuring the wheel-rail contact forces in running conditions
Summary
Railway transport is a major means of transportation worldwide and has become increasingly popular because it is economic, safe and environmentally friendly. Compared to other existing test facilities [2,3,4,5], V-Track can simulate the wheel-rail contact and the high-frequency dynamics of the vehicle-track system, enabling wheel-rail contact ex periments under impact loading in this system. Wheel-rail contact force measurement is fundamental to under standing wheel-rail interaction. For lab oratory test facilities, accurate measurement of wheel-rail contact forces is a prerequisite for force control to simulate different loading conditions from engineering practice, for instance, traction, braking and curve negotiation
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