Study on the influence of car-body flexibility on passengers’ ride comfort

Abstract

A 3D rigid-flexible human-seat-vehicle-track coupling model is proposed to analyze high-speed train ride comfort. The seated human model is built based on the multi-body dynamic method. The human multi-axis excitation measurement data determines the model parameters. The detailed FE (finite element) car body model is built, and the model is calibrated by laboratory modal tests. The dynamic behavior of the high-speed train, running on both straight and curved tracks, is analyzed by using the rigid-flexible human-seat-vehicle-track coupling model. Then, the effect of the seat support parameters on the ride comfort of the high-speed train is analyzed, when the train travels on curved tracks. The results show that using the rigid car body model can overestimate the ride comfort of the high-speed train. The lateral and rolling motion of the car body, induced by curves can worsen the lateral dynamic performance of the passenger seats. At the different seat positions and for the different configurations of seats (three-abreast and two-abreast), selecting proper stiffness of the seat-floor and seat-sidewall supports can achieve comfort for the passengers.