Stochastic Analysis of Train–Bridge System Using the Karhunen–Loéve Expansion and the Point Estimate Method

This paper presents a new method for analyzing the dynamic behavior of train–bridge systems with random rail irregularity aimed at its simplicity, efficiency and accuracy. A vertical train–bridge system is considered, in which the bridge is regarded as a series of simply supported beams, and the train is regarded as a multibody system with suspensions. The Karhunen–Loéve expansion (KLE) is used to simulate the stochastic vertical rail irregularities, and the mean and standard deviation of the system response are calculated by the point estimate method (PEM), based on the Gaussian integration and the dimension reduction method. The proposed KLE–PEM method, which combines the key features of the KLE and PEM, is validated by comparing the results obtained with existing ones. The Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is used to verify the rationality of the results obtained by the KLE–PEM approach. The results show that the KLE–PEM approach can accurately calculate the response of the vertical train–bridge interaction system with random irregularity. This paper further discusses the responses of the train and bridge system with different speeds for the train.

Investigation of rolling wheel–rail contact using an elaborate numerical simulation

In this paper, a non-linear model is developed for analyzing rolling wheel–rail contact in a wheel–track–infrastructure system. Because of the random irregularity across the surface of the rail, the process of the wheel accelerating from rest and rolling forward at its expected speed can be simulated and verified. The dynamic characteristics of the rolling wheel–rail contact at the expected speed are also carefully investigated. The results showed that the top of the rail consists of spatially curved planes due to the deformation induced by the rolling wheel. In addition to the adhesion and slipping zones, there was also a disengaging zone existing within the contact area. The random irregularity throughout the top of the rail significantly reduced the area of contact between the wheel and the rail. By comparing the Hertz contact theory with a smooth rail top, significant differences were observed in the vertical contact stress distribution mode throughout the contact area for the real wheel–rail rolling contact, with a sharp increase in the absolute values of contact pressure. The stress distribution in the contact area was highly non-uniform, and a severe local concentration of dynamic stress was observed.

Dynamic Analysis of Vehicle Track Coupling Based on Double Beam Track Model

The rail was considered as double Timoshenko beam in this paper, applied to the vehicle track coupling dynamics model; the Hertz nonlinear method is used to calculate the wheel rail contact force. Wheel rail vertical force and response of vehicle are calculated by using the model under random irregularity and single harmonic excitation; at the same time, wheel rail force and vertical acceleration response of 3-order, 10-order, and 19-order wheel polygon were calculated. The results show that, under the excitation of random irregularity, the wheel rail vertical force of two models was very close in the low frequency band, and the response of the double beam model in the high frequency band of 200–1000 Hz is larger than the single beam model, and the acceleration and displacement responses of the double beam model are relatively close. Under a single harmonic excitation, the double beam model has a shorter wheel rail force attenuation time than that of the single beam model. And wheel rail force peak value of double beam model is 9% larger than that of single beam model. Similarly, the vertical displacement of the double beam model increased by 2.6%. Under the 3-order and 10-order wheel polygon excitation, vertical wheel rail peak force of double beam is, respectively, 37.5% and 50% larger than single beam model; the vertical frame acceleration amplitude is 1 g and 1.7 g; under the 19-order polygon wheel excitation, the difference of the wheel rail force between two models is very small, and the amplitude of acceleration of bogie is 2.3 g. And double beam model has more advantage in analyzing high frequency problems such as wheel polygonization.

Vertical Random Vibration Analysis of Track-Subgrade Coupled System in High Speed Railway with Pseudoexcitation Method

In order to reduce the ground-borne vibration caused by wheel/rail interaction in the ballastless track of high speed railways, viscoelastic asphalt concrete materials are filled between the track and the subgrade to attenuate wheel/rail force. A high speed train-track-subgrade vertical coupled dynamic model is developed in the frequency domain. In this model, coupling effects between the vehicle and the track and between the track and the subgrade are considered. The full vehicle is represented by some rigid body models of one body, two bogies, and four wheelsets connected to each other with springs and dampers. The track and subgrade system is considered as a multilayer beam model in which layers are connected to each other with springs and damping elements. The vertical receptance of the rail is discussed and the receptance contribution of the wheel/rail interaction is investigated. Combined with the pseudoexcitation method, a solution of the random dynamic response is presented. The random vibration responses and transfer characteristics of the ballastless track and subgrade system are obtained under track random irregularity when a high speed vehicle runs through. The influences of asphalt concrete layer’s stiffness and vehicle speed on track and subgrade coupling vibration are analyzed.

Multi-Scale Regular-Fractal Topography Characterization and Modeling

Regular-fractal topography on RF-switch MEMS surface is reported over different scale ranges. Surface topography is crucial in understanding underling physics associated with the surface contacts, switch working performance, and reliability. The complexity of these structures requires new techniques to characterize topography and then replicate the multi-scale regular-fractal structure for analysis. Topography on RF-switch contacting surfaces are scanned by atomic force microscopy (AFM) at different length scales (e.g. 1×1, 10×10 and 60×60 μm2). A sample allocation plan is designed to maximize the spatial representative of the AFM scanning patches with different resolutions and uniformly distributed sample patches. The scanning data are used for characterizing and model estimation. Hexagonal patterns are found on at coarser scales (e.g. 10×10 and 60×60 μm2). They were formed by the remnant (polymer) of etching process. Random irregularity is observed and the fractal structure at finer scales (e.g. 1×1 μm2) is identified. A regular-fractal model is proposed to decompose and characterize the regular and fractal structures with two model components: one for the regular geometric pattern and the other for fractal irregularity. The former uses a 2D cosine functions to characterize dominant modes in the regular (larger scale) patterns. The later summarizes random irregularity in finer scales with a statistical fractal model estimated from the data on the scattered sample patches. The model validation is made through the comparisons of topography and conventional roughness parameters between the results of simulation from the proposed model and that derived from AFM scanned data.