Nichtlineare Schienenfahrzeugdynamik, neue Grundlagen, Methoden und Ergebnisse

In this article the concept 'critical speed' is examined in the mathematical context of nonlinear dynamics. It is argued that the search for the critical speed must be formulated as a problem of existence and uniqueness of solutions of the dynamical problem rather than as a stability problem. If that is done properly, then the calculated and measured values agree very well. Some concepts of nonlinear dynamics and properties ofthe solutions that are important in railway dynamics are introduced through examples. Nonlinear effects such as chaos are briefly discussed and illustrated by a couple of examples and test results.