Wagon instability in long trains

Lateral force components and impacts from couplers can adversely affect wagon stability. These issues are significant in longer and heavier trains increasing risk of wagon roll over, wheel climb, wagon body pitch, bogie pitch and wagon lift off. Modelling of coupler angles has been added to normal longitudinal train simulation toallow comprehensive study of lateral components of coupler forces. Lateral coupler forces are then combined with centripetal inertia calculations to allow quasi static lateral forces, quasi static vertical forces and quasi static bogie L/V to be calculated allowing study of stringlining, buckling or wagon rollover risks. The approach taken allows for the different rollingstock lengths, overhang and coupling lengths and allows angles occurring in transitions to also be studied. Wagon body and bogie pitch is also studied with enhancements added to previous modelling to allow study of wagon lift off.