A STUDY OF LATERAL DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR OF RAIL VEHICLE IN CURVES BY MEASUREMENT AND COMPUTER SIMULATION

A general purpose computer simulation program and new methods of measuring wheelset angle of attack on board and on the ground have been developed by RTRI in Japan. Curving performance estimated by simulation was verified by field running tests. Tests conducted in 1985 using Japanese Railways limited express train on a JR narrow gauge commercial line with curve radii of 300 m to 800 m provided the data for verification. Influences of wheel and rail profile and primary yaw stiffness on steady side thrust of the wheel are investigated and the mechanism by which arc wheel profile can reduce steady side thrust compared with conic wheel profile is explained.