Practical modelling and simulation of polymer draft gear connections

The proposed paper reviews several approaches to polymer draft gear modelling and proposes a comprehensive approach to capturing the asymmetry and damping behaviours expected in polymer draft gears. A new model was developed that provides an alternative approach to preload modelling and provides a method of developing the model with better understanding of the dynamic processes. The ideas are evaluated on a passenger type polymer draft gear example using longitudinal train simulation and comparison of coupler forces and longitudinal accelerations. The sensitivity to non-linear parameters were compared showing how the draft gear model can be applied to a range of different non-linear polymers.