T-4-2-3 Analysis of pendulum motion using a four-link mechanism

Abstract

For increasing the speed of railway vehicles running through curved sections, four-link mechanisms is examined to be used on a car body tilting system. In this research, the main purpose is to reduce the over-centrifugal acceleration of the car body and also the unbalance of the wheel load. An experimental setup using the four-link mechanism is constructed, and the effects of the pendulum motion on these factors are then analyzed. This paper consists of two parts including steady-state analysis of unbalanced motion at a curved section and dynamic analysis of the pendulum motion. The experiment clarifies that (1) the steady state values of the over-centrifugal acceleration and wheel load unbalance are over-centrifugal acceleration and wheel load unbalance are greatly influenced by the link parameters, and (2) the natural frequency of the tilting system also changes corresponding to the link mechanism. A mathematical model is examined to explain these experimental results, considering geometric relation and equation of motion of this vehicle body tilting system.