Dynamic simulation studies and experiments on rubber structures used in rail vehicles

Abstract

Rail vehicles operate in highly complex dynamic environments. Rubber-to-metal bonded springs are used as both primary and secondary suspensions as well as engine installations in order to minimize vibration levels. The effect of rubber hysteresis is usually studied using viscoelastic models; however, this paper proposes an approach in which Rayleigh damping coefficients are introduced to model the rubber hysteresis. Simulations of the dynamic response of a rectangular rubber spring are performed and it is found that the natural frequencies of the rubber suspensions and engine installations on a railway vehicle show little change under both the tare and loaded conditions in service. The steady state dynamic response to a harmonic input in the frequency range between 1 and 1000 Hz is calculated and subsequently validated against experimental results. In addition the effect of a sudden impact, created by track irregularities, on the rubber suspension and engine installation is analysed. The proposed methodology may be used to guide the design of the rubber structures used in railway vehicles.