Dynamic performance analysis of heavy-haul locomotives running through turnout branches with electric brake

Abstract

This paper develops a dynamic model of heavy-haul train to investigate the dynamic behaviour of heavy-haul locomotives passing through turnout branch lines with electric brakes. A heavy-haul train dynamic model including 2 HX-type locomotives and 4 sets of coupler and buffer systems has been built up by SIMPACK software. The developed coupler-tail arc surface contact friction element, improved nonlinear hysteretic buffer element and flattened pin rotation stop element are all taken into consideration in the coupler and buffer subsystem. The turnout branch line is simplified as an S-shape curve without considering the profile change of turnout switch and frog rails. This dynamic model is validated by comparing its calculation results with those of the real turnout model and test data respectively. On this basis, the simulations of heavy-haul locomotives passing through Chinese 12# turnout branch lines with electric brakes have been carried out, and the influences of electric brake forces, locomotive and coupler structural parameters have been investigated deeply. Results indicate that both the locomotive electric brake force and the coupler-tail friction coefficient have significant influences, and the locomotive secondary lateral stop also has a great effect. Controlling the locomotive electric brake force and optimising these locomotive and coupler structural parameters could improve the dynamic performance of heavy-haul locomotives passing through turnout branches with electric brakes.