Analysis of vehicle behavior under crosswind using air spring pressure

Abstract

To clarify the behavior of railway vehicles under crosswind, a new method using the left-right balance of air spring pressure is presented in this paper. The rate of off-loading, which is an evaluation index for vehicle behavior, can always be estimated by the new method without conventional special wheel-set. The method is theoretically derived and the accuracy is experimentally verified comparing the new method with the conventional method. In the experiment, lateral forces equivalent to crosswind were loaded statically or dynamically, and a running test was conducted. The results show that the new method and the conventional method are in good agreement and that the new method is useful when analyzing vehicle behavior under crosswind. By applying the practical method to the Shinkansen, it is possible to obtain statistical data on vehicles running at higher speeds or under higher wind speeds easily than with conventional methods. Much data was analyzed on the relationship between wind speed and the rate of off-loading, and the validity of the Kunieda’s equation used for vehicle design under crosswind is verified. This method can monitor effects of crosswind on vehicles not only at specific points but also along railway lines. Therefore, it is possible to identify areas where vehicles are likely to be affected by strong winds. Some examples further improve safety against strong winds are shown in this paper.

Keywords

• railway
• safety engineering
• crosswind
• air spring
• monitoring