Static and Dynamic Stability of a Class of Three-Axle Railway Vehicles Possessing Perfect Steering

For railway vehicles having coned wheels mounted on solid axles there is, in general, a conflict between stability of lateral deviations from the motion along the track and ability to steer round curves. However, the three-axle vehicle with zero bending stiffness and with shear elasticity between all wheelsets can satisfy the requirement of perfect steering and for a range of values of equivalent conicity possesses both static and dynamic stability. The static and dynamic stability of the most general form of symmetric three-axle vehicle is investigated, and stability criteria derived.