Performance of a rail car equipped with independently rotating wheelsets having yaw control

Abstract

Rail vehicles experience problems of hunting and severe wheel/rail wear which result in lower critical speeds. The design of the conventional railway wheelset, consisting of two wheels mounted rigidly on an axle, is one of the main factors inhibiting high-speed operation of rail vehicles. In this paper the potential for good dynamic stability at high speeds and improved ride comfort in a rail vehicle equipped with an independently rotating wheelset (IRW) having yaw control are examined. The control for the yaw rotation is provided by a state-variable feedback controller.