Dynamics simulation of the high-speed train using interconnected hydro-pneumatic suspension as a self-steering system

Abstract

The high-speed train needs excellent curve-passing performance, reducing wheel/rail force and wear, and sufficient hunting stability. According to the mechanism of self-steering radial bogie, the Interconnected Hydro-Pneumatic Steering system (IHPSS) is adopted as the primary longitudinal suspension element to realise the wheelsets’ radial function. Four struts of the IHPSS are mounted between the four axle boxes and the bogie frame, longitudinally parallel to the bogie's arm nodes. The pipeline interconnection between the struts’ different chambers allows the front and rear wheelsets to yaw in the opposite direction, and restricts the yaw motion in the same direction and the longitudinal movement. Four typical IHPSS configurations are made from various connection methods among different chambers. The static and dynamic characteristics of IHPSS are analysed, and the vehicle system dynamics simulation is carried out. The desired stiffness characteristics that improve the car body hunting and bogie hunting stability can be achieved by adjusting the structural parameters of IHPSS. The IHPSS can reduce car body hunting when wheel/rail equivalent conicity is small and bogie hunting under large conicity. Besides, this radial bogie can effectively reduce both wheel/rail wear and wheelset lateral force when the vehicle passes curves.

KEYWORDS:

• High-speed train
• interconnected hydro-pneumatic suspension
• self-steering radial bogie
• dynamics simulation

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Professor Subhash Rakheja for his help in the principle of interconnected hydro-pneumatic suspension.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The present work has been supported by the projects of the Independent R&D Project from State Key Laboratory of Traction Power (2019TPL-T15), National Natural Science Foundation of China (#11790282), and the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) Foundation.