Title: Lateral stability of flat rail cars - an over-the-road investigation

Authors: M.M. ElMadany, P.V. RamaChandran

Addresses: Senior Research Engineer, Wyle Laboratories, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. ' Senior Engineer, Structures and Mechanics, Wyle Laboratories, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Abstract: As part of the (Rail) Truck Design Optimization Project (TDOP), Phase 11, data acquired from over-the-road tests have been reduced and analyzed to define the dynamic characteristics of flat rail cars equipped with low-level constant-friction snubbed rail trucks. The investigation has focused on the influence of lading condition, wheel profile, speed and track excitations (jointed rail track and continuous welded rail track) on the lateral stability of flat cars. The objectives of this study are to define the statistical characteristics of the flat CM lateral stability and to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of such vehicles.

Keywords: rail truck design; statistical characteristics; dynamic characteristics; lateral stability; hunting; jointed track; continuous welded track; vehicle performance; data analysis; railways; railroads; flat rail cars; design optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1981.061257

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1981 Vol.2 No.2, pp.162 - 173

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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