Study on Non-Linear Transient Properties of Air Suspensions in Railway Vehicles (The Influence of the Initial Condition on Transition Curve)

Abstract

This paper presents the curving performance of rail vehicles with air suspensions. Air suspensions sometimes cause reduction of wheel load at transition curve at low speed, so it is very important to evaluate the performance on transition curve. The air suspensions have non-linear characteristics, consequently the performance might be influenced by the initial condition, the entrance transition curve condition and so on. In this study, the effects of track and running condition on curving performance at the transition curve section were examined by computer simulations and experiments using the full scaled one-car-modeled test bench. It was found that the performance was influenced by the air flow through the levering valve into or out the air suspensions and the experimental results agrees with computer simulations. So it is effective to consider the characteristics of air suspension system to improve safety of running.