Vibration of Axle Box from Wheel Diameter Difference in Vehicle

Abstract

The wheel diameter difference would worsen the dynamic performance and affect the safety of the rail vehicle. Therefore, it is necessary to detect wheel diameter difference while the train is operating. However, several existing detection methods can’t accurately detect and diagnose the wheel diameter difference under highspeed running environment. In this study, a new method of detecting wheel diameter difference was proposed for high speed rail vehicle. The wheel diameter difference would be diagnosed by the amplitude and frequency of vibration impact on the axle box. Firstly, the dynamic model with varying wheel diameters was established in SIMPACK, and LMA tread was used in high-speed rail vehicles. Then, the simulation results of rail vehicle dynamic performance were compared under different wheel diameter differences. After that, the relationship between axle box vibration and wheel diameter difference was used to demonstrate the feasibility of this detection technology. Finally, comparing and analyzing the simulation results of vibration obtained by matching treads with different wheel diameters, it shows that by increasing the wheel diameter difference, the longitudinal and lateral impacts on axle boxes increase asymmetrically, and the amplitude and the frequency become more evident. Therefore, this paper presents a technical scheme of online measuring wheel diameter difference by monitoring the vibration of the axle box.