Simulation of Multibody Railroad Vehicle/Track Dyanmics

1. Simulation of Multibody Railroad Vehicle/Track Dyanmics Investigator: Ahmed A. Shabana, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering Prime Grant Support: Federal Railroad Administration (USA) • Develop new methodologies and computer algorithms for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of detailed multi-body railroad vehicle models. • The computer algorithms developed can be used to accurately predict the wheel/rail interaction, derailment, stability and dynamic and vibration characteristics of high speed railroad vehicle models. • Develop accurate small and large deformation capabilities in order to be able to study car body flexibility and pantograph/ catenary systems. • Methods of nonlinear mechanics are used to formulate the equations of motion of general multi-body systems; examples of which are complex railroad vehicles. • Small and large deformation finite element formulations are used to develop the equations of motion of the flexible bodies. • Numerical methods are used to solve the resulting system of differential and algebraic equations. • Computer graphics and animation are used for the visualization purpose. • Fully nonlinear computational algorithms were developed and their use in the analysis of complex railroad vehicle systems was demonstrated. • The results obtained using the new nonlinear algorithms were validated by comparison with measured data as well as the results obtained using other codes. • Advanced large deformation problems such as pantograph/catenary systems have been successfully and accurately solved for the first time. • The tools developed at UIC are currently being used by federal laboratories and railroad industry.