ON PRINCIPLES AND METHODS TO REDUCE THE WHEEL/RAIL FORCES FOR RAIL FREIGHT VEHICLES

Abstract

SUMMARY The principles and methods to reduce the wheel/ rail interacting forces for freight vechicles are studied in this paper. Nine indices are defined for track force evaluation, and then factors affecting these induces are systematically investigated. Based on such analyses, main measures of reducing track forces are summarized. As an application, four designs of low track force bogie are recommended and the track force indices are calculated in comparison with other types of freight bogie, verifying the feasibility of the designs.