Devising a procedure to choose optimal parameters for the electromechanical shock absorber for a subway car

A procedure for determining basic estimation parameters has been devised for the proposed structure of the electromechanical shock absorber. The procedure is based on a simplified mathematical model for determining the electromagnetic and electromotive force for the electromechanical shock absorber. Feature of the model is taking into consideration the operational modes of permanent magnet based on the calculation of a magnetic circle. The model devised makes it possible to perform approximate calculation of the shock absorber operational modes and could be used for solving the problem on the optimization of parameters for an electric shock absorber. We have verified adequacy of the constructed simplified mathematical model by comparing the results from calculating the mechanical characteristic for a shock absorber based on the simplified procedure and those obtained using a finite element method in the axial-symmetrical statement of the problem. There is a good match between the results from calculations based on the simplified procedure and from modeling a magnetic field using the method of finite elements. We have determined the geometric relationships between the elements of the structure that ensure the optimal uniform magnetic load on the elements of the magnetic circuit. The problem on the conditional two-criteria optimization of parameters for the electromechanical shock absorber has been stated. We have chosen constraints that are divided into the three following categories. Constraints for a permanent magnet demagnetization that make it possible to maintain operability of the permanent magnet. Constraints for a current density, which ensures the thermal modes in the shock absorber operation. Constraints for assembly and constraints for the parameters of an optimization problem, which enable the arrangement of a structure within the running part of a carriage. It has been proposed to choose the reduced volume of a shock absorber as a criterion, which predetermines the cost of constructing a shock absorber, and its efficiency as a criterion, which predetermines the recuperated energy of oscillations. The parameters were convoluted to a single objective cost function; the weights were defined. We have chosen, as an optimization method, the combined method that includes a genetic algorithm at the preliminary stage of the search. At the final stage of an optimization procedure an optimum is refined by using the Nelder-Mead method. The result from solving the optimization problem on the shock absorber's parameters is the defined optimal geometric dimensions and the number of turns in the winding of the electromechanical shock absorber.