R&D
High-Speed Wheelset Dynamic Load Test Facility Completed
April 28, 2021
Railway Technical Research Institute
On February 26, 2021, a new test facility was completed at RTRI. This test stand is capable of reproducing high-speed train running (maximum 500 km/h) and the load acting to the bogie (Fig.1 and 2), and, with this facility, durability and performance of Shinkansen’s wheel and axle can be evaluated. It will be utilized to evaluate the durability of wheelset and bogie parts and to analyze the mechanism of wheelset damage development.
[Outline of the test facility]
・Instead of running a test bogie on a track, this facility is capable of reproducing 500 km/h running by rotating the wheelsets of a test bogie on its high-speed roller.
・Capable of reproducing vertical vibration of a track by shaking the roller vertically.
・The loading frame that simulates a carbody is shaken by the vibration exciters and reproduces vertical and lateral vibration of a running train carbody and the load acting to the bogie. (Fig. 2)
・Simulates the torque acting to the wheelset during acceleration and deceleration.*
・Capable of testing bogies for different gauges as it has rollers of Shinkansen gauge and conventional gauge.
*Simulating the torque to move a carbody in the longitudinal direction with a flywheel.
Table 1 Specification of high-speed wheelset dynamic load test facility
[Tests and evaluations using the test facility]
(1) Durability assessment
Using this test facility, durability of the components of a wheelset and a bogie can be evaluated under the conditions close to running tests with an actual vehicle. The results of the evaluation will be utilized in the research to assess the service life of these components and in extending inspection intervals for the purpose of achieving labor-efficient maintenance.
(2) Performance assessment
Vibration property and thermal property of the components of a wheelset and a bogie will be evaluated under the loading conditions simulating real train running or harder conditions. The results will be used to improve the bogie performance.
(3) Damage cause analysis
Through the tests on this facility under the conditions simulating the vehicle load and acceleration/deceleration torque, causes of damage to the components will be analyzed and effects of preventive measures will be verified.
* You can see all the photos and figures in the PDF file above.