Stability enhancement of a high-speed train bogie using active mass inertial actuators

In this study, a method regarding frame lateral vibration control based on the state feedback of an additional oscillator is proposed, so as to improve the bogie hunting stability. The multi-objective optimisation method (MOOP), with two objective functions of the stability index and control effort, is solved by the NSGA-II algorithm to obtain the feedback gains. The frame lateral vibration control can effectively improve the bogie hunting stability according to the linear and non-linear analysis of a high-speed train bogie, in which a fault of the yaw damper and time delay in the control system are considered. The effect of the oscillator suspension parameters and time delay on the system stability and robustness are analysed. The results show that the damped vibration frequency of the oscillator should be equal to the bogie hunting frequency, but a harder oscillator suspension can be used to improve the hunting critical speed margin of the bogie control system. However, just as how the feeding the frame states back directly, a hard oscillator suspension will lead to instability in the control system at a certain time delay. Therefore, the improvement of bogie hunting stability and reduction of control system stability must be considered when optimising the oscillator parameters. For the 350?km/h train bogie covered in this study, the optimal mass, natural frequency and damping ratio of the additional oscillator are acquired.     

Hunting stability analysis of high-speed train bogie under the frame lateral vibration active control

In this paper, we study a multi-objective optimal design of three different frame vibration control configurations and compare their performances in improving the lateral stability of a high-speed train bogie. The existence of the time-delay in the control system and its impact on the bogie hunting stability are also investigated. The continuous time approximation method is used to approximate the time-delay system dynamics and then the root locus curves of the system before and after applying control are depicted. The analysis results show that the three control cases could improve the bogie hunting stability effectively. But the root locus of low- frequency hunting mode of bogie which determinates the system critical speed is different, thus affecting the system stability with the increasing of speed. Based on the stability analysis at different bogie dynamics parameters, the robustness of the control case (1) is the strongest. However, the case (2) is more suitable for the dynamic performance requirements of bogie. For the case (1), the time-delay over 10?ms may lead to instability of the control system which will affect the bogie hunting stability seriously. For the case (2) and (3), the increasing time-delay reduces the hunting stability gradually over the high-speed range. At a certain speed, such as 200?km/h, an appropriate time-delay is favourable to the bogie hunting stability. The mechanism is proposed according to the root locus analysis of time-delay system. At last, the nonlinear bifurcation characteristics of the bogie control system are studied by the numerical integration methods to verify the effects of these active control configurations and the delay on the bogie hunting stability.     

Robust control and actuator dynamics compensation for railway vehicles

A robust controller is designed for active steering of a high speed train bogie with solid axle wheel sets to reduce track irregularity effects on the vehicle’s dynamics and improve stability and curving performance. A half-car railway vehicle model with seven degrees of freedom equipped with practical accelerometers and angular velocity sensors is considered for the H_∞ control design. The controller is robust against the wheel/rail contact parameter variations. Field measurement data are used as the track irregularities in simulations. The control force is applied to the vehicle model via ball-screw electromechanical actuators. To compensate the actuator dynamics, the time delay is identified online and is used in a second-order polynomial extrapolation carried out to predict and modify the control command to the actuator. The performance of the proposed controller and actuator dynamics compensation technique are examined on a one-car railway vehicle model with realistic structural parameters and nonlinear wheel and rail profiles. The results showed that for the case of nonlinear wheel and rail profiles significant improvements in the active control performance can be achieved using the proposed compensation technique.     

Active yaw damper for the improvement of railway vehicle stability and curving performances: simulations and experimental results

To further increase passenger train comfort and handling performances, a mechatronic approach to the design of railway vehicles is necessary. In fact, active systems on board a railway vehicle allow to push design barriers beyond those encountered with just passive systems. The article deals with the development of an electro-mechanical actuator to improve the running behaviour of a railway vehicle, both in straight track and curve. The main components of the active system are a brushless motor and a mechanical transmission, used to apply a longitudinal force between the carbody and the bogie of the vehicle. The actuator is operated in force control. Different control strategies were developed for straight track running, where the aim is to increase the vehicle critical speed, and for curve negotiation, where the goal is to reduce the maximum values of track shift forces. A mathematical model of the railway vehicle incorporating the active control device has been developed and used to optimise control strategies and hardware set-up of the active device and to estimate the increase in operating performances with respect to a conventional passive vehicle. The active control device has then been mounted on an ETR470 railway vehicle, and its performances have been evaluated during in-line tests in both straight and curved tracks.     

Active yaw damper for the improvement of railway vehicle stability and curving performances: simulations and experimental results

To further increase passenger train comfort and handling performances, a mechatronic approach to the design of railway vehicles is necessary. In fact, active systems on board a railway vehicle allow to push design barriers beyond those encountered with just passive systems. The article deals with the development of an electro-mechanical actuator to improve the running behaviour of a railway vehicle, both in straight track and curve. The main components of the active system are a brushless motor and a mechanical transmission, used to apply a longitudinal force between the carbody and the bogie of the vehicle. The actuator is operated in force control. Different control strategies were developed for straight track running, where the aim is to increase the vehicle critical speed, and for curve negotiation, where the goal is to reduce the maximum values of track shift forces. A mathematical model of the railway vehicle incorporating the active control device has been developed and used to optimise control strategies and hardware set-up of the active device and to estimate the increase in operating performances with respect to a conventional passive vehicle. The active control device has then been mounted on an ETR470 railway vehicle, and its performances have been evaluated during in-line tests in both straight and curved tracks.     

Active controller design for an electromagnetic energy-regenerative suspension

In this paper, with the parameters acquired from measured and tested data, a three-phase mathematical model is applied to the motor component of the developed electromagnetic suspension actuator. A main/inner-loop structure is used for its active control, and the constraints of the control current and energy flow states of actuator are analyzed by simplifying the inner-loop control system. Two different control modes, i.e., Consumptive Full Active (CFA) and Regenerative Semi Active (RSA) modes, which emphasize vibration control of sprung mass and vibration energy regeneration caused by road roughness, respectively, are proposed. Simulations are carried out using different road conditions, and the results demonstrate that the CFA mode can improve vehicle ride comfort by more than 30 percent, despite battery energy consumption; in RSA mode, the ride comfort can be improved by up to 10 percent with the battery charged by regenerated energy.     

An Original Feedback Control with a Reversible Electromechanical Actuator Used as an Active Isolation System for a Seat Suspension. Part II: Experimental Study

From the theoretical study presented in [1], we investigate the experimental feasibility of the active seat suspension to improve ride comfort. The prototype of the reversible electromechanical actuator used in the active seat suspension is presented. First, the kinematic guide with a vertical auto-levelling system is described. Second, the electromechamical actuator and the power drive transmission are presented. It is noticed that the prototype design is achieved with a systemic approach taking into account the industrial constraints. Then, the laboratory experimental setup is described. Several tests are performed on the prototype for model validation and performance purposes. Correct force feedback control in the actuator is verified. The real performances of the active seat suspension on a prototype is investigated for different pertubation inputs. Experimental results clearly show the efficiency of the active seat suspension to improve passenger comfort and demonstrate its feasability.     

An Original Feedback Control with a Reversible Electromechanical Actuator Used as an Active Isolation System for a Seat Suspension. Part II: Experimental Study

From the theoretical study presented in [1], we investigate the experimental feasibility of the active seat suspension to improve ride comfort. The prototype of the reversible electromechanical actuator used in the active seat suspension is presented. First, the kinematic guide with a vertical auto-levelling system is described. Second, the electromechamical actuator and the power drive transmission are presented. It is noticed that the prototype design is achieved with a systemic approach taking into account the industrial constraints. Then, the laboratory experimental setup is described. Several tests are performed on the prototype for model validation and performance purposes. Correct force feedback control in the actuator is verified. The real performances of the active seat suspension on a prototype is investigated for different pertubation inputs. Experimental results clearly show the efficiency of the active seat suspension to improve passenger comfort and demonstrate its feasability.     

A semi-active control suspension system for railway vehicles with magnetorheological fluid dampers

The high-speed train has achieved great progress in the last decades. It is one of the most important modes of transportation between cities. With the rapid development of the high-speed train, its safety issue is paid much more attention than ever before. To improve the stability of the vehicle with high speed, extra dampers (i.e. anti-hunting damper) are used in the traditional bogies with passive suspension system. However, the curving performance of the vehicle is undermined due to the extra lateral force generated by the dampers. The active suspension systems proposed in the last decades attempt to solve the vehicle steering issue. However, the active suspension systems need extra actuators driven by electrical power or hydraulic power. There are some implementation and even safety issues which are not easy to be overcome. In this paper, an innovative semi-active controlled lateral suspension system for railway vehicles is proposed. Four magnetorheological fluid dampers are fixed to the primary suspension system of each bogie. They are controlled by online controllers for enhancing the running stability on the straight track line on the one hand and further improving the curving performance by controlling the damper force on the other hand. Two control strategies are proposed in the light of the pure rolling concept. The effectiveness of the proposed strategies is demonstrated by SIMPACK and Matlab co-simulation for a full railway vehicle with two conventional bogies.     

Power Requirement of Active Vibration Control Systems

SUMMARY

The paper deals with the theoretical estimation of the minimal power requirement, necessary for the operation of the active vibration control system (AVCS), connected with a passive one. It is assumed this compound system is used for the vibration control purposes in the heavy vehicle driver's seats. The systems considered in the paper are of two kinds. In the first case the electro-hydraulic actuator of the AVCS is situated in series to the spring-damper combination of the seat suspension. The second system under consideration is formed by parallel connection of electro-pneumatic actuator and the spring-damper combination of the seat suspension, which is a mechanical model of a real air spring with controlled in-flow and out-flow of the air. The comparison of results for both compound systems shows markedly higher power consumption of the serial system. The theoretical results are in acceptable agreement with the experimental data.     

DISCUSSION NOTE on Karnopp's article “Active Damping in Road Vehicle Suspension Systems”

SUMMARY

In this paper, an optimal suspension system is derived for a quarter-car model using multivariable integral control. The suspension system features two parts. The first part is an integral control acting on suspension deflection to ensure zero steady-sate offset due to body and maneuvering forces as well as road inputs. The second is a proportional control operating on the vehicle system states for vibration control and performance improvement. The optimal ride performance of the active suspensions based on linear full-state feedback control laws with and without integral control together with the performance of passive suspensions are compared.     

Self-powered active control applied to a truck cab suspension

A method of active vibration control using regenerated vibration energy, i.e. self-powered active control, applied to the cab suspension of a heavy duty truck. In the proposed system, an electric generator that is installed in the suspension of the chassis regenerates vibration energy and stores it in the condenser. An actuator in the cab suspension achieves active vibration control using the energy stored in the condenser. Numerical simulations and basic experiments demonstrate better isolation performance of the self-powered active vibration control system than that of a passive and a semi-active control.     

键合图理论在汽车纵向角振动主动控制中的应用

本文应用键合图理论建立了汽车5自由度振动系统的键图模型并推导出状态方程，以垂直振动、纵向角振动能量最小和控制能量最小为目标函数，利用状态反馈原理代化出前悬架减振器的最佳控制力，对汽车驶过三角形单凸起时的振动响应进行了计算机仿真分析。结果表明，具有主动控制悬架的汽车，其纵向角振动得到明显的衰减。     

Effect of System Nonlinearities on Locomotive Bogie Hunting Stability

This paper presents the effect of system parameters on hunting of a rail vehicle with nonlinear yaw dampers and wheel-rail interface. This study is intended to complement earlier studies by True et al. where they investigated the effect of nonlinearities stemming from creep-creep force saturation and wheel/rail contact forces. The rail vehicle is represented by a two-axle truck (bogie) that includes the dynamics of the wheelsets and the truck frame. The numerical simulation results show that yaw damping can have a mixed effect on the hunting critical speed. In some ranges, increasing damping can actually lower the critical speed, unlike the results commonly obtained from a linear model. Flange contact nonlinearities can also have a significant effect on the hunting behavior. Large lateral stiffness of the rail can increase lateral force to vertical force (L/V) ratio during hunting. Increasing the gauge clearance, however, can have an opposite effect. The effect of a variety of other parameters, such as the primary suspension yaw and lateral stiffness, primary suspension lateral damping, wheelset mass, and truck frame mass, are summarized in a table.     

Multiobjective optimisation of bogie suspension to boost speed on curves

To improve safety and maximum admissible speed on different operational scenarios, multiobjective optimisation of bogie suspension components of a one-car railway vehicle model is considered. The vehicle model has 50 degrees of freedom and is developed in multibody dynamics software SIMPACK. Track shift force, running stability, and risk of derailment are selected as safety objective functions. The improved maximum admissible speeds of the vehicle on curves are determined based on the track plane accelerations up to 1.5?m/s². To attenuate the number of design parameters for optimisation and improve the computational efficiency, a global sensitivity analysis is accomplished using the multiplicative dimensional reduction method (M-DRM). A multistep optimisation routine based on genetic algorithm (GA) and MATLAB/SIMPACK co-simulation is executed at three levels. The bogie conventional secondary and primary suspension components are chosen as the design parameters in the first two steps, respectively. In the last step semi-active suspension is in focus. The input electrical current to magnetorheological yaw dampers is optimised to guarantee an appropriate safety level. Semi-active controllers are also applied and the respective effects on bogie dynamics are explored. The safety Pareto optimised results are compared with those associated with in-service values. The global sensitivity analysis and multistep approach significantly reduced the number of design parameters and improved the computational efficiency of the optimisation. Furthermore, using the optimised values of design parameters give the possibility to run the vehicle up to 13% faster on curves while a satisfactory safety level is guaranteed. The results obtained can be used in Pareto optimisation and active bogie suspension design problems.     

The dynamic study of locomotives under saturated adhesion

In order to study the dynamic behaviours of locomotives under saturated adhesion, the stability and characteristics of stick–slip vibration are analysed using the concepts of mean and dynamic slip rates. The longitudinal vibration phenomenon of the wheelset when stick–slip occurs is put forward and its formation mechanism is made clear innovatively. The stick–slip vibration is a dynamic process between the stick and the slip states. The decreasing of mean and dynamic slip rates is conducive to its stability, which depends on the W/R adhesion damping. The torsion vibration of the driving system and the longitudinal vibration of the wheelset are coupled through the longitudinal tangential force when the wheelset alternates between the stick and the slip states. The longitudinal oscillation frequencies of the wheelset are integral multiples of the natural frequency of torsion vibration of the driving system. A train dynamic model integrated with an electromechanical and a control system is established to simulate the stick–slip vibration phenomenon under saturated adhesion to verify the theoretical analysis. The results show that increases of the longitudinal axle guidance stiffness and the motor suspension stiffness are beneficial to the stick–slip vibration stability and the locomotive's traction ability. The optimised matching of the longitudinal axle guidance stiffness and the motor suspension stiffness are helpful to avoid longitudinal resonance when the stick–slip vibration occurs.     

Control Algorithms for Active Cab Suspensions on Agricultural Tractors

This paper describes active agricultural tractor cab suspensions based on optimal control theory. Control algorithms based on time invariant state feedback and on adaptive control are developed and studied. The influence of different observers and measurement noise levels on the vibration damping capacity are studied as well as the power consumption for the suspensions.

The principle for the adaptive algorithm is based on the parameters in the penalty matrices being varied so that the resulting controller always strives to make optimum use of available travel space. The feedback and observer gains are also changed depending on the characteristics of the vehicle's frame movements.

The results show that it is possible to design an effective active suspension, but that the choice of feedback gains must be dependent on the surface characteristics to reach satisfactory vibration damping performance.     

Simulation of curving at low speed under high traction for passive steering hauling locomotives

The traction control in modern electric and diesel electric locomotives has allowed rail operators to utilise high traction adhesion levels without undue risk of damage from uncontrolled wheel spin. At the same time, some locomotive manufacturers have developed passive steering locomotive bogies to reduce wheel rail wear and further improve locomotive adhesion performance on curves. High locomotive traction loads in curving are known to cause the loss of steering performance in passive steering bogies. At present there are few publications on the curving performance of locomotive steering with linkage bogies. The most extreme traction curving cases of low speed and high adhesion for hauling locomotives have not been fully investigated, with effects of coupler forces and cant excess being generally ignored. This paper presents a simulation study for three axle bogie locomotives in pusher and pulling train positions on tight curves. The simulation study uses moderate and high traction adhesion levels of 16.6% and 37% for various rail friction conditions. Curving performance is assessed, showing forced steering bogies to have considerable advantages over self steering bogies. Likewise it is shown that self steering bogies are significantly better than yaw relaxation bogies at improving steering under traction. As the required traction adhesion approaches the rail friction coefficient, steering performance of all bogies degrades and yaw of the bogie frame relative to the track increases. Operation with excess cant and tensile coupler forces are both found to be detrimental to the wear performance of all locomotive bogies, increasing the bogie frame yaw angles. Bogie frame pitching is also found to have significant effect on steering, causing increased performance differences between bogie designs.     

电液主动悬架滤波输出反馈控制器的设计及仿真实现

基于1／2车辆模型和非线性电液作动器，提出并详细设计了主动悬架滤波输出反馈控制器。整个主动悬架系统分解为内、外两个回路，外回路采用滤波输出反馈控制，大幅度衰减了车辆在高低频范围内的起伏和俯仰运动，提高了车辆的乘坐舒适性。内回路基于非线性作动器模型，采用传统的PI控制器，较好地跟踪输出了控制系统需要的作用力。此外，还对作动系统的摩擦力进行了详细建模。频域和时域仿真结果演示了主动悬架的良好性能并验证了结论。     

Active Steering of a Rail Vehicle with Two-Axle Bogies Based on Wheelset Motion

Summary This paper deals with a basic study on the actively steered rail vehicle with two-axle bogie trucks, which employs a control law based on the self-steering ability of wheelset. However, this control law not only helps the steering performance, but also tends to lower the running stability. Two methods are proposed to improve the stability. The first method is to add a feedback of wheelset lateral velocity, the second one is to give some time lag to the control force, and both are proved to be affective. Here, the latter is more practical method and the delay of control due to the time lag does not deteriorate the steering performance.