Structural dynamics of rail vehicle systems: a virtual systems approach

The paper describes the development of a virtual vehicle system using virtual prototyping computer tools. The virtual vehicle is used for the prediction of the structural dynamics. Since the modelling process for complete rail vehicle systems becomes increasingly more complex, time and cost can be saved by the use of a database concept and an automated assembling process for the vehicle of interest. Supported by a modular design concept, vehicle components for a metro train have been modelled and stored as substructures in a specific vehicle component database. Using this database, train configurations up to a three-car train can be assembled very quickly to perform structural dynamics analyses and to predict the ride comfort. Experimental results have been compared with simulation results of the rail vehicle to improve the modelling technique and the accuracy of the developed virtual vehicle system. The mathematical modelling of the rail vehicle system featuring elastic components, the structure of the database as well as numerical and experimental results are shown in the paper.