Curving Simulation and Scaled Model Test for LRT Vehicles

Recently, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) is expected to become high-performance transit systems in cities. In the LRT systems, there are a lot of curves of small radius (up to 100 mR) because the LRT tracks lay on the automobile roads together. So, the requirement of the vehicle performance is expected not only running stability but also curving performance. In this research, in order to develop new LRT vehicles and clear the running performance, the curving simulation and the scaled model test are carried out. The curving performance of the LRT vehicles was calculated by the improved multi-body dynamics program A'GEM. The 1/5 scaled model test equipment of the LRT vehicles was developed using three roller-rigs. This test equipment is able to simulate the relative angles of body/body and body/bogie and bogie/wheel-sets by combining three roller-rigs. The advantage of it is to simulate the curving behavior of LRT vehicles.