Effect of asymmetric brake shoe force application on wagon curving performance

This paper reports the effect of asymmetric brake force on wheelsets to the curving performance of freight wagons fitted with three-piece bogies. For the purpose of study a wagon model containing eleven rigid body elements was set up. The non-linear characteristics caused by friction and clearances betweed critical rigid elements are considered in the modelling. The effects of yaw torque (positive and negative) induced by asymmetric brake forces, the wheel profiles, and the friction coefficients on the curving performance of the wagons are examined. The results show that the negative yaw torque potentially deteriorates the curving performance as measured by the increase in the angle of attack and lateral force as well as lateral to vertical force (L/V) ratio.