On the sloshing effect in half-filled freight trains during braking

Abstract

This paper is concerned with a computationally efficient numerical study on the dynamic responses of a half-filled freight train during braking phase using the moving element method. The motion of liquid inside the freight tank is modelled based on potential flow theory. The vehicle components are represented by interconnected rigid multi-bodies and the track is modelled by an Euler beam resting on a Pasternak-type foundation. The accuracy of the proposed computational model is examined by comparison with available results in the literature. This paper also investigates the effect of the initial train speed and the braking torque on the dynamic response of the train-track system.