Consequences of Nonlinear Characteristics of a Secondary Suspension in a Three-Piece Freight Car Bogie

Mechanical systems with nonlinear characteristics can show a complex dynamic behavior that should be taken into account when analysing dynamic performance and reliability. The dynamic behavior of the main suspension in a three-piece freight car bogie with constant friction damping is considered in this work. The aim is to investigate the vertical behavior of a specific suspension design due to different driving conditions, weather and wear of the friction wedges. A variation in weather and wear is represented by different friction configurations in the model of the suspension. Models of different levels of detail that are based on experimental data on existing designs are developed. It is found that the suspension performance is very sensitive to variations of the friction configuration and this indicates a possible presence of nonlinear dynamic phenomena at in service like conditions.     

Farm tractor models for research and development purposes

The modelling problems related to the simulation of the dynamics of farm tractors are dealt with. The aim is to develop reliable mathematical models to speed-up the research and development activities in which farm tractors and their sub-systems (driveline, steering and suspension system, etc.) are to be conceived and designed. Two models of farm tractors have been developed. The first model is based on a proprietary software, able to quickly simulate the motion of a vehicle on smooth or rough soil. The second model has been developed by the commercial software ADAMS/Car^®, which allows to model complicated transmission and suspension systems. In both of the two models, the tyres, the transmission system, the suspension system, the steering system, the engine and the body inertia are carefully described mathematically. Both of the two models are defined in a parametric way. Particular attention has been devoted to the measurements of the tyre characteristic and of the inertia parameters of the farm tractor body. For the measurement of tyre characteristics, a new instrumented wheel hub has been used. The accurate measurement of both the tyre characteristic and body inertia tensor has allowed a good agreement between measured and computed time histories referring to a number of validation manoeuvres performed either on-road or off-road. The derived farm tractor models could simulate the working conditions of a generic farm tractor while hauling a plough or while running at a relatively high speed on a rough soil or while steering on a sloped, soft surface.