The estimation of wheel-rail interaction forces from wagon accelerations

An inverse dynamic model for the estimation of wheel-rail interaction forces from measured wagon or car body accelerations was developed. A knowledge of wheel rail forces is industrially important from a vehicle safety and maintenance cost viewpoint but these forces are difficult to determine in service. An initial estimation model was developed from the vehicle dynamic equations to allow prediction of these forces from low cost acceleration measurements. The model has 25 degrees of freedom (DOF). Inputs are accelerations measured at the car body and sideframes. The outputs are 16 wheel-rail reaction forces in lateral and vertical directions respectively. The railway vehicle simulation package, VAMPIRE, is used to evaluate the initial model.