A Research Facility for the Next Generation Train Running Gear in True Scale

Abstract

The running gears of DLR's long-term project Next Generation Train utilize independently rotating wheels with mechatronic track guidance, direct drives close to the wheels and are optimized for low weight. On the basis of encouraging research results so far, DLR decided to design and build a true scale prototype of the NGT running gear and use it as a research facility. It is the intention to improve, validate and demonstrate the mechanical and mechatronic design, sensor and actuator lay-out step by step and finally approach the Technology Readiness Level 6. By the end of 2022, this prototype will be put into operation considering low speed scenarios up to max. 5 m/s at an in-house integration test rig. This is the current task, which is reported on in the paper. However, this work is supposed to prepare advanced performance experiments up to 350 km/h on external roller rigs and at railway test tracks later on.

Calibration and validation of fatigue design models for railway car bodies considering uncertainty

“…The resulting loads on the car body can be determined either from measurements or simulations. At DLR, multibody system simulations of the vehicle dynamics 9 and CFD simulations for the determination of pressure profiles in tunnels and during train encounters 23 were carried out for the NGT. MBS models in Simpack 24 are available for the middle car, the end car, and a shortened train of the NGT High Speed Train (HST).…”

“…In this work, performed within the DLR project SimbaCon aiming at a simulation‐based design and certification of vehicles, the calibration and validation process is applied to the car body structure of the Next Generation Train (NGT) 9,10 . The simulation of the fatigue life span of the car body structure requires a complex modeling chain including the modeling of the track geometry as main source for loads, the dynamic reactions of the vehicle running on the track, the structural loads due to the vehicle dynamics, and the resulting fatigue life span.…”

Adhesion control strategy for trains with driven independently rotating wheels considering active guidance

“…Much research work has been carried out on the active guidance control of DIRW [1, 12–16]. The expression of the desired value for the differential rotational speeds between the left and right wheels is given in [12].…”

“…The expression of the desired value for the differential rotational speeds between the left and right wheels is given in [12]. Besides, more and more researchers have adopted lateral displacement as the control object and zero lateral displacement control is widely applied for DIRW [4, 13–16]. The PD controller with the feedback of the lateral displacement is proposed by the German Aerospace Centre DLR [4].…”

Ride comfort improvements in switches using active secondary suspension with preview

“…In the project 'Next Generation Train' (NGT) the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is developing a mechatronic running gear prototype which is currently built in full scale [6]. For this prototype the effectiveness of lateral guidance control using preview information for reduction of wear has already been proved in [7].…”