Dynamic characteristics analysis of rack railway track system under traction conditions by experimental test

Abstract

The dynamic characteristics of the track system can directly affect its service performance and failure process. To explore the load characteristics and dynamic response of the track system under the dynamic loads from the rack vehicle in traction conditions, a systematic test of the track subsystem was carried out on a large-slope test line. In the test, the bending stress of the rack teeth, the wheel–rail forces, and the acceleration of crucial components in the track system were measured. Subsequently, a detailed analysis was conducted on the tested signals of the rack railway track system in the time domain and the time–frequency domains. The test results indicate that the traction force significantly affects the rack tooth bending stress and the wheel–rail forces. The vibrations of the track system under the traction conditions are mainly caused by the impacts generated from the gear–rack engagement, which are then transferred to the sleepers, the rails, and the ballast beds. Furthermore, both the maximum stress on the racks and the wheel–rail forces measured on the rails remain below their allowable values. This experimental study evaluates the load characteristics and reveals the vibration characteristics of the rack railway track system under the vehicle’s ultimate load, which is very important for the load-strengthening design of the key components such as racks and the vibration and noise reduction of the track system.

Keywords

Rack railway / Vehicle–track coupled dynamics / Traction condition / Experimental test / Gear–rack engagement / Engineering / Civil Engineering

References

[1] YuH, ZhangY, ChenL. Research on the technical characteristics and application prospect of the rack railway. J Railw Eng Soc, 2020, 37106-10in Chinese

[2] ChenX, ShenL, LiaoZ, et al. . Technical characteristics of ZCA120 cog rail motor bogie. Electr Locomot Mass Transit Veh, 2022, 4561-7in Chinese

[3] ShuR, ChenZ, YangJ, et al. . Structural characteristics and key structure parameter selections of mountain cog railway. J Railw Eng Soc, 2021, 38924-28in Chinese

[4] ZhaiWVehicle-track coupled dynamics: theory and applications, 2020SingaporeSpringer

[5] ZhaiW. Two simple fast integration methods for large-scale dynamic problems in engineering. Int J Numer Methods Eng, 1996, 39244199-4214

[6] ChenZ, ZhaiW, WangK. A locomotive–track coupled vertical dynamics model with gear transmissions. Veh Syst Dyn, 2017, 552244-267

[7] ChenZ, ZhaiW, WangK. Dynamic investigation of a locomotive with effect of gear transmissions under tractive conditions. J Sound Vib, 2017, 408: 220-233

[8] ZhouZ, ChenZ, ZhaiW. Dynamics modeling and electromechanical coupling characteristics analysis of cage induction motors. Sci China Technol Sci, 2024, 673709-724

[9] ZhouZ, ChenZ, SpiryaginM, et al. . Dynamic performance of locomotive electric drive system under excitation from gear transmission and wheel–rail interaction. Veh Syst Dyn, 2022, 6051806-1828

[10] ZhouZ, ChenZ, SpiryaginM, et al. . Dynamic response feature of electromechanical coupled drive subsystem in a locomotive excited by wheel flat. Eng Fail Anal, 2021, 122105248

[11] ZhouY, WangX, QueH, et al. . Torque effect on vibration behavior of high-speed train gearbox under internal and external excitations. Railw Eng Sci, 2024, 322229-243

[12] ChenZ, NingJ, YangG, et al. . Dynamic characteristics of rack vehicle-track coupled system on large slope line: theoretical modelling and experimental validation. Veh Syst Dyn, 2024, 6292304-2331

[13] ChenZ, WangL, ZhangM, et al. . Modified connection mode of rack system on super-slope bridge under extreme temperature load in rack railway. Eng Struct, 2024, 301117351

[14] ChenZ, ZhangM, WangL, et al. . Reliability of super-slope rack railway under bridge pier settlement. Eng Struct, 2023, 294116751

[15] YangG, ChenZ, ChenZ, et al. . Dynamic investigation of a rack vehicle–track coupled system considering effect of multi-stage gear transmissions. Nonlinear Dyn, 2024.

[16] LeeH, HanSY, LimJ, et al. . Evaluation of structural stresses of mountain-embedded railway systems. Appl Sci, 2023, 132011469

[17] ParkJ, EumK, LimN. Evaluation of the applicability of 50 N rails to sharp curves on mountain railway tracks. J Korean Soc Hazard Mitig, 2022, 221149-153

[18] ParkSH, MoonJ, JungHS. A study on proposal of rail alignment design criteria for Korean Mountain railway. J Korean Soc Railw, 2018, 214396-405

[19] NingJ, ChenZ, ChenZ, et al. . Dynamic behaviours of rack vehicle-track system considering rack flexibility under gear-rack mesh impact. Int J Rail Transp, 2024.

[20] ChenZ, YangG, NingJ, et al. . Dynamic test and analysis of rack vehicle-track coupled system on large slope line. Measurement, 2024, 238115263

[21] XinT, WangS, GaoL, et al. . Field measurement of rail corrugation influence on environmental noise and vibration: a case study in China. Measurement, 2020, 164108084

[22] GeX, LingL, ChenZ, et al. . Experimental assessment of the dynamic performance of slave control locomotive couplers in 20,000-tonne heavy-haul trains. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F: J Rail Rapid Transit, 2021, 235101225-1236

[23] XuN, YangG, YangC. Spatial frequency domain transfer characteristics of vertical vehicle-track coupling system. J Mech Eng, 2023, 5924231-241in Chinese

[24] Bayoğlu FlenerE, KaroumiR. Dynamic testing of a soil–steel composite railway bridge. Eng Struct, 2009, 31122803-2811

[25] KassaE, NielsenJCO. Dynamic interaction between train and railway turnout: full-scale field test and validation of simulation models. Veh Syst Dyn, 2008, 46sup1521-534

[26] HeQ, CaiC, ZhuS, et al. . Field measurement of the dynamic responses of a suspended monorail train–bridge system. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F: J Rail Rapid Transit, 2020, 234101093-1108

[27] UnsiwilaiS, WangL, NúñezA, et al. . Multiple-axle box acceleration measurements at railway transition zones. Measurement, 2023, 213112688

[28] XuG, HouD, QiH, et al. . High-speed train wheel set bearing fault diagnosis and prognostics: a new prognostic model based on extendable useful life. Mech Syst Signal Process, 2021, 146107050

[29] LiuZ, YuanY, XiaoW, et al. . Method of calculation and experiment of bending stress for rough module racks. J Mech Eng, 2016, 5223152-159in Chinese

[30] BonaitiL, BayoumiABM, ConcliF, et al. . Gear root bending strength: a comparison between single tooth bending fatigue tests and meshing gears. J Mech Des, 2021, 14310103402

[31] LiW, LiZ, ZhangS. Analysis of tooth root crack initiation, propagation and fracture surface based on gear bending fatigue test. J Fail Anal Prev, 2023, 2331288-1297

[32] TaoJ, WenA, LiuZ, et al. . Lean lubrication of ultra large modulus open gear and rack pair: a case study of the gear-rack drive mechanism of the Chinese “Three Gorge Dam” ship lift. J Clean Prod, 2021, 282124450

[33] SunX, ZhangY, ShiD. Dynamics simulation and fatigue life study of the drive system of rack and pinion climbing vertical shiplift. Appl Mech Mater, 2013, 456: 155-158

[34] HouY, WangX, SunS, et al. . Measured load spectra of the bearing in high-speed train gearbox under different gear meshing conditions. Railw Eng Sci, 2023, 31137-51

[35] Shi X (2015) Passenger car transmission gear tooth root bending stress testing and modeling analysis. Dissertation, Jilin University (in Chinese)

[36] National Railway Administration of People’s Republic of ChinaTB/T 2489–2016: track side test methods of vertical and lateral wheel–rail forces, 2016BeijingChina Railway Publishing Housein Chinese

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(52388102)

Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2024NSFTD0011)

Fundamental Research Funds for the State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Vehicle System of Southwest Jiaotong University(2023TPL-T11)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

The Author(s)