Numerical and experimental studies on the car body flexible vibration reduction due to the effect of car body-mounted equipment

Abstract

To study the effect of car body-mounted equipment on the car body flexible vibration, a vertical rigid-flexible coupling model of a high-speed vehicle is established, which includes a flexible car body, rigid bodies for two bogie frames, four wheelsets, and the car body-mounted equipment. The car body is approximated by an elastic beam, with dimensions selected to give similar mass and vertical bending frequency to an existing car body. Model validation is then carried out by comparing results from numerical simulation and on-track test. Using frequency response analysis and ride comfort analysis, parametric studies are undertaken in order to investigate the respective effect of equipment mounting systems on the car body flexible vibration and ride comfort perceived by the passenger. It is found that the equipment behaves as a dynamic vibration absorber on account of its elastic connections to the car body. The stiffness, damping, mass, and installing position of the equipment have a significant influence on the car body flexible vibration. The optimal parameters of the dynamic vibration absorber are given, which can contribute much to the vibration absorption of the car body flexible vibration. Finally, extensive tests on a high-speed test vehicle are conducted to represent a part of results obtained in the numerical study, including modal tests on the car body, component tests on rubber springs used in the equipment mounting systems, and roller rig tests on the vibration absorption performance of the equipment. It is shown that the car body flexible vibration can be effectively suppressed by reasonably suspending the car body-mounted equipment.