Dynamic response of railroad vehicle to rail joints and average vertical profile: a time domain approach

One rigid body and three finite element models have been used to study the dynamic behaviour of a typical Electrical Multiple Unit Trailer coach running on Indian suburban tracks. Following eigenvalue analysis, dynamic responses to input excitation from rail joints and Average Vertical Profile (AVP) have been determined in the time domain, using mode superposition technique. Acceleration and displacement response at Centres of Gravity (cg) of car and bogie have been predicted. The analytical results compare well with experimental results and highlight the need to include superstructure elasticity to predict the dynamic response accurately.