The influence of varying input parameters on model validation results

Abstract

This article presents an evaluation of the model validation method provided as the output of the European research project DynoTRAIN and implemented in the recently revised European standard EN 14363. The input parameters of the validation method are varied, namely the section length, number and selection of sections as well as selected parameters of the simulation models. The evaluation shows that a single section providing a large deviation between simulation and measurement can in rare cases influence the overall validation result. Nevertheless, the investigations demonstrate a good robustness, as the final validation result is very rarely influenced by the variation of sections selected for validation, by the use of a higher number of sections than the minimum of 12 or by longer sections than specified for on-track tests according to EN 14363. The validation methodology is also able to recognise errors in vehicle model parameters, if they have a relevant influence on the running dynamics behaviour of the evaluated vehicle.

On the generation of enhanced lookup tables for wheel-rail contact models

“…The wheel-rail contact interaction representation plays a fundamental role in the study and simulation of railway vehicles [1], namely in vehicle dynamics [2][3][4][5], prediction of wear or rolling contact fatigue [6][7][8], traction and braking systems design [9,10], among others. Hence, the main focus of research works has been the development of more advanced contact models to enhance the existing algorithms either in terms of accuracy or efficiency [11][12][13][14][15][16].…”