Experimental investigation of wheel-track interaction characteristics using test track bogie dynamics measurements

The characteristics of the interactions between the wheel and track significantly influence a number of features of the running performance of vehicles, wheelset lifecycles and the vehicles' impact on track. Determining the characteristics of the wheel-track interactions is essential in both vehicle and track design, for the selection of vehicle and track specifications, including the wheelset specifications. The optimization of the wheel on track system is key to minimize life cycle costs, improve performance and maintain safety. Obtaining actual test data to validate and support simulations can be an expensive and time consuming exercise. The paper firstly describes a cost effective portable measuring system that was recently developed to be easily and rapidly applied to vehicles and track for testing of new and improved designs, with a lower investment than traditional dynamics measurement systems. Example measurements of bogie dynamics carried out on a full-scale test track, on different designs of equivalent bogies, under different conditions, are further presented and discussed. The proposed methodology allows fast prediction of the wheel-track interaction effects on the running gear, which would support selection decisions intended to optimize specific criteria of vehicle design, such as minimizing wheel wear and wheelset life cycle costs.