An approach to geometric optimisation of railway catenaries

The quality of current collection becomes a limiting factor when the aim is to increase the speed of the present railway systems. In this work an attempt is made to improve current collection quality optimising catenary geometry by means of a genetic algorithm (GA). As contact wire height and dropper spacing are thought to be highly influential parameters, they are chosen as the optimisation variables. The results obtained show that a GA can be used to optimise catenary geometry to improve current collection quality measured in terms of the standard deviation of the contact force. Furthermore, it is highlighted that apart from the usual pre-sag, other geometric parameters should also be taken into account when designing railway catenaries.     

A stochastic analysis of highway capacity: Empirical evidence and implications

This paper presents a stochastic characterization of highway capacity and explores its implications on ramp metering control at the corridor level. The stochastic variation of highway capacity is captured through a Space–Time Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (STARIMA) model. It is identified following a Seasonal STARIMA model (0, 0, 2₃) × (0, 1, 0)₂, which indicates that the capacities of adjacent locations are spatially–temporally correlated. Hourly capacity patterns further verify the stochastic nature of highway capacity. The goal of this paper is to study (1) how to take advantage of the extra information, such as capacity variation, and (2) what benefits can be gained from stochastic capacity modeling. The implication of stochastic capacity is investigated through a ramp metering case study. A mean–standard deviation formulation of capacity is proposed to achieve the trade-off between traffic operation efficiency and robustness. Following that, a modified stochastic capacity-constraint ZONE ramp metering scheme embedded cell transmission model algorithm is introduced. The numerical experiment suggests that considering capacity variation information would alleviate the spillback effect and improve throughput. Monte Carlo simulation further supports this argument. This study helps verify and characterize the stochastic nature of capacity, validates the benefits of using capacity variation information, and thus enhances the necessity of implementing stochastic capacity in traffic operation.     

<TPL-PCRUN> Statement of methods

TPL-PCRUN is a software program for the dynamic interaction simulation of pantograph–catenary systems. In the benchmark, based on the finite element method, the catenary model was built and the pantograph was considered as a three-level spring–damper–mass system. Then, through the contact definition between pantograph and catenary, the coupled model of the pantograph and catenary system was established. The respective dynamic equations of motions were solved by the time integration method. Thus, the simulation results were obtained and submitted for the comparison with the other software. On the other hand, a standard model from EN50318 was established and analysed by TPL-PCRUN. The simulation results by TPL-PCRUN were remarkably consistent with the reference values given by EN50318. It was proved that the results by TPL-PCRUN can be reliable. Recently, the software has been updated and improved. Some new models and algorithms are proposed, including the rigid–flexible hybrid pantograph model, contact definition considering appearance characteristics of the contact surfaces, a fluid–solid coupling algorithm of the pantograph and catenary system, etc.     

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.     

Sideslip angle estimation based on input–output linearisation with tire–road friction adaptation

An adaptive sideslip angle observer considering tire–road friction adaptation is proposed in this paper. The single-track vehicle model with nonlinear tire characteristics is adopted. The tire parameters can be easily obtained through road test data without using special test rigs. Afterwards, this model is reconstructed and a high-gain observer (HGO) based on input–output linearisation is derived. The observer stability is analysed. Experimental results have confirmed that the HGO has a better computational efficiency with the same accuracy when compared with the extended Kalman filter and the Luenberger observer. Finally, a road friction adaptive algorithm based on vehicle lateral dynamics is proposed and validated through driving simulator data. As long as the tires work in the nonlinear region, the maximal friction coefficient could be estimated. This algorithm has excellent portability and is also suitable for other observers.     

An efficient approach to the analysis of rail surface irregularities accounting for dynamic train–track interaction and inelastic deformations

A two-dimensional computational model for assessment of rolling contact fatigue induced by discrete rail surface irregularities, especially in the context of so-called squats, is presented. Dynamic excitation in a wide frequency range is considered in computationally efficient time-domain simulations of high-frequency dynamic vehicle–track interaction accounting for transient non-Hertzian wheel–rail contact. Results from dynamic simulations are mapped onto a finite element model to resolve the cyclic, elastoplastic stress response in the rail. Ratcheting under multiple wheel passages is quantified. In addition, low cycle fatigue impact is quantified using the Jiang–Sehitoglu fatigue parameter. The functionality of the model is demonstrated by numerical examples.     

Vehicle control synthesis using phase portraits of planar dynamics

ABSTRACT

Phase portraits provide control system designers strong graphical insight into nonlinear system dynamics. These plots readily display vehicle stability properties and map equilibrium point locations and movement to changing parameters and system inputs. This paper extends the usage of phase portraits in vehicle dynamics to control synthesis by illustrating the relationship between the boundaries of stable vehicle operation and the state derivative isoclines in the yaw rate–sideslip phase plane. Closed-loop phase portraits demonstrate the potential for augmenting a vehicle's open-loop dynamics through steering and braking. The paper concludes by applying phase portrait analysis to an envelope control algorithm for yaw stability and a sliding surface controller for stabilising a saddle point equilibrium in drifting.     

Improvement of vehicle–turnout interaction by optimising the shape of crossing nose

Proper rail geometry in the crossing part is essential for reducing damage on the nose rail. To improve the dynamic behaviour of turnout crossings, a numerical optimisation approach to minimise rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage and wear in the crossing panel by varying the nose rail shape is presented in the paper. The rail geometry is parameterised by defining several control cross-sections along the crossing. The dynamic vehicle–turnout interaction as a function of crossing geometry is analysed using the VI-Rail package. In formulation of the optimisation problem a combined weighted objective function is used consisting of the normal contact pressure and the energy dissipation along the crossing responsible for RCF and wear, respectively. The multi-objective optimisation problem is solved by adapting the multipoint approximation method and a number of compromised solutions have been found for various sets of weight coefficients. Dynamic behaviour of the crossing has been significantly improved after optimisations. Comparing with the reference design, the heights of the nose rail are notably increased in the beginning of the crossing; the nominal thicknesses of the nose rail are also changed. All the optimum designs work well under different track conditions.     

Effective assessment of tyre–road friction coefficient using a hybrid estimator

Vehicle stability and active safety control depend heavily on tyre forces available on each wheel of a vehicle. Since tyre forces are strongly affected by the tyre–road friction coefficient, it is crucial to optimise the use of the adhesion limits of the tyres. This study presents a hybrid method to identify the road friction limitation; it contributes significantly to active vehicle safety. A hybrid estimator is developed based on the three degrees-of-freedom vehicle model, which considers longitudinal, lateral and yaw motions. The proposed hybrid estimator includes two sub-estimators: one is the vehicle state information estimator using the unscented Kalman filter and another is the integrated road friction estimator. By connecting two sub-estimators simultaneously, the proposed algorithm can effectively estimate the road friction coefficient. The performance of the proposed estimation algorithm is validated in CarSim/Matlab co-simulation environment under three different road conditions (high-μ, low-μ and mixed-μ). Simulation results show that the proposed estimator can assess vehicle states and road friction coefficient with good accuracy.     

节能环保措施在3500m~3/h绞吸式挖泥船上的应用

疏浚船舶是疏浚工作的必备船机设施,它的选型的好坏将直接影响到疏浚工作的效率与成败。阐述了中国船舶及海洋工程设计研究院为连云港港设计的3500m3/h绞吸式挖泥船的节能环保设计思路。重点介绍采用负载转移或功率管理分配等节能措施、采用变频电机取代液压泵站来驱动水下泵及水下绞刀的环保措施等。旨在投资额较为固定的要求下,选型、建造出一艘既技术先进,又节能环保,而且还要安全可靠、平稳高效的绞吸式挖泥船舶。