Estimating load spectra probability distributions of train bogie frames by the diffusion-based kernel density method

Abstract The load spectra of a train bogie frame are used for bogie frame design, simulated fatigue testing and reliability evaluation and fatigue life prediction, however, modelling the bogie load spectrum is one of the most challenging tasks in this field. In this paper, diffusion-based kernel density estimation (DKDE) is used to obtain the load spectra distributions of train bogie frames. A full-scale B-type subway motor bogie and a full-scale high-speed EMU trailer bogie are analysed. DKDE, Gaussian kernel density estimation (GKDE) and parametric estimation are used to fit the distributions of the loads. Goodness-of-fit tests suggest that the distributions obtained by DKDE are close to the actual distributions. Fatigue damage are calculated to evaluate the distributions estimated by DKDE and GKDE. From the distributions obtained by DKDE, reasonable maximum load values and reasonable extrapolated load spectra are deduced.