Motor car–track spatial coupled dynamics model of a high-speed train with traction transmission systems

Abstract

As an important component of a high-speed train motor car, the traction transmission system, which directly affects the dynamic performance and the running safety of the vehicle. The present paper establishes a comprehensive spatial coupled dynamics model of the motor car–track system. The model is based on classical vehicle–track coupled dynamics and gear dynamics theory. The coupling effects between the traction transmission subsystem and the vehicle–track system are captured by the suspension system, gear mesh, and wheel–rail interactions. Some nonlinear factors, such as the nonlinear damping characteristics, the gear time-varying mesh stiffness, and the wheel–rail contact relationship, are considered. The results of the proposed dynamics model are compared with those of experimental field tests for validation, which reveals the dynamics performance of the whole system, particularly the dynamics of the traction transmission system in vehicle-coupling vibration environments. The traction transmission exerted non-negligible effects on the wheelset vibrations and the wheel–rail interface, especially in the low-speed range. Furthermore, this dynamics model can assess the vibrational characteristics of the coupled system under the complex excitations that occur during service, such as gear cracking, wheel defects and rail local defects, particularly during the acceleration process.