Investigation of in-train stability and safety assessment for railway vehicles during braking

Abstract

In-train stability of railway vehicles has becoming a major concern for railway vehicles, which refers to the jackknifing behavior of couplers under large in-train forces. For the train to train rescue scenario, braking induced impacts from couplers can adversely affect the dynamic performance of the coupled train. It is indicated from field tests that in-train forces if combined with large rotational angles of couplers can produce vertical components, which will further lead to the interference of adjacent carbodies and structural damages. In this paper, the dynamic model of the train and coupler system is developed. The model verifications are conducted by comparing the calculated responses with the tested results. The safety indices are formulated on the basis of which the running safety of the coupled train is evaluated. The propelling test in the laboratory is conducted to reproduce the coupler jackknifing behavior. The quasi-static analysis and anti-jackknifing mechanism under compressing in-train forces are analysed. Parametric studies are then conducted to propose some limitations for the application of train to train rescue. It is indicated from numerical and testing results that the decrease of the braking deceleration or a limitation of the free rotational angle of couplers is beneficial to lower the amplitude of braking induced impacts.