Design and analysis of train anti-derailment device based on full-scale derailment tests

Abstract

This paper proposes an anti-derailment device that can be installed on the bogie to minimize the loss incurred by derailment accidents. The device is designed to create a stable four-point contact between the bogie and the rail once the wheel climbs the rail and derails, thereby preventing derailment. Full-scale derailment tests have been carried out to demonstrate the efficacy of the anti-derailment device. During the bogie test, the anti-derailment device successfully reduced the lateral acceleration at the derailed wheel axle box by 18.1%, effectively preventing wheel derailment. Since vehicle derailment tests are destructive, simulation models were used to compare the safety improvement of the anti-derailment device under derailment conditions, which showed a reduction of lateral acceleration at the derailed wheel axle box by 35.9%. Compared with the normal vehicle, the critical operation speeds of the vehicle are amplified greatly by the anti-derailment device. The results demonstrate that the anti-derailment device is a practical solution that effectively mitigates train derailment accidents caused by wheel derailment.

Keywords:

• Anti-derailment device
• full-scale derailment test
• dynamic simulation
• railway safety

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Project(2022YFB2303305-6) supported by the National Key R&D Program of China.

Disclosure statement

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