Hunting Stability of Rail Vehicles with Torsionally Flexible Wheelsets

Abstract

The effects of torsionally flexible wheelsets on the hunting stability of rail vehicles have been investigated by solving the eigenproblem. The primary model is that of a single truck with two torsionally flexible wheelsets. Results for a complete car model consisting of the car body, two trucks and four torsionally flexible wheelsets are also presented for comparison. This study shows that the hunting critical speed of rail vehicles is reduced significantly by the use of torsionally flexible wheelsets.