Title: Fast estimation of the derailment risk of a braking train in curves and turnouts

Authors: Nico Burgelman; Zili Li; Rolf Dollevoet

Addresses: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Postbus 5048, 2600GA Delft, The Netherlands ' Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Postbus 5048, 2600GA Delft, The Netherlands ' Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Postbus 5048, 2600GA Delft, The Netherlands

Abstract: When a train runs through a turnout or a sharp curve, high lateral forces occur between the wheels and rails. These lateral forces increase when the couplers between the wagons are loaded in compression, i.e., a rear locomotive pushing a train or a front locomotive braking a train. This study quantifies these effects for a train that begins braking when steadily curving and for a train that brakes upon entering a turnout. Our approach allows distinguishing between the effects of braking and the transient effects of entering the turnout. The dynamic derailment quotient is mapped as a function of the vehicle speed and the braking effort. Then the dynamic derailment coefficient obtained from the dynamic simulations is compared to results from quasi statics. This allows determining a dynamic multiplication coefficient that can be used on the quasi static derailment coefficient to obtain a first estimate of the dynamic derailment coefficient.

Keywords: longitudinal train dynamics; track turnouts; derailment quotient; vehicle simulation; braking trains; derailment risks; risk assessment; track curves; lateral forces; vehicle speed; braking effort; dynamic modelling; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2016.077320

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2016 Vol.23 No.3, pp.213 - 229

Received: 22 May 2015
Accepted: 19 Oct 2015
Published online: 28 Jun 2016 *

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