A survey of rail vehicle track simulations and flexible multibody dynamics (Q5960049)

The objective of this review is to discuss some works devoted to dynamic modeling of railroad vehicle track systems. The authors consider multibody dynamics, effects of deformation of rails and car bodies and joints, and contact theories which are used in railroad research. The need for using more accurate nonlinear kinematic equations is explained. Underlined is the nonlinear nature of equations of motion which are expressed in terms of coupled reference and elastic coordinates. Flexible multibody technique is used for analysis of pantograph/catenary systems of high speed trains. The presented future research directions together with a large list of references make investigators familiar with this engineering problem of great importance.