Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

When freight rolling stock operators optimize their own costs and profits, one of many steps is to increase the number of wagons. As the freight trains become longer, the dynamics of individual freight wagons in the longitudinal direction becomes important in terms of safety. In this case, the forces involved between the wagons have a key influence on safety against derailment. The derailments of wagons of long freight trains frequently occurred around the world, which caused tremendous losses. The presented in the paper approach to the results obtain from experimental tests carried out on real objects (freight train - test track) to validate a theoretical model are used. Thus, as a result of these numerical investigations by use of the theoretical model, a tool based on multi-body simulations has been developed to provide longitudinal behaviour of freight wagon passing through S-curves of varying curvatures.

longitudinal dynamics, experimental investigations, theoretical investigations, freight trains, railway dynamic

Safe operation and efficient of trains require assessment of its running behaviour. When freight rolling stock operators optimize their own costs and profits, one of many steps is to increase the number of wagons. As the freight trains become longer, the dynamics of individual freight wagons in the longitudinal direction becomes important in terms of in-service behaviour. In this case, the forces involved between the wagons have a key influence on safety against derailment. Safety against derailment is one of primary criteria for assessing the reliability of rail vehicle operation. The derailments of wagons of long freight trains frequently occurred around the world, which caused tremendous losses. Statistics from Australia, Canada, China revealed that the freight trains account for the vast majority of mainline derailments.

longitudinal dynamics, freight trains, experimental and theoretical investigations, trains dynamics, wheel-rail interaction