Active Modal Control of an Innovative Two-Axle Vehicle with Composite Frame Running Gear

• Within the Shift2Rail projects Pivot2 and NEXTGEAR, an innovative Metro vehicle with single axle running gear and only one suspension step is proposed. A composite material running gear frame is developed to be used both as structural and as suspension element. The design with only one suspension step can significantly degrade the passengers ride comfort. Thus, active modal control is implemented both in lateral and vertical direction to increase the performance of the system. The running gear frame is modelled in Abaqus® as well as the carbody. Structural modes of both elements are implemented in SIMPACK®. A hydraulic actuator model is developed in Simscape®, where two pressure-controlled valves are used to control the pressure inside the chambers of a double acting hydraulic cylinder. A co-simulation environment is then established between SIMPACK® and Simulink®. The vehicle is running with speeds between 10 and 120 km/h. Active modal control makes it possible to maintain ride comfort levels of conventional bogie vehicles with this innovative single axle and single suspension step running gear, promising substantial weight savings of about 400 kg/m. The single axle running gear solution with active comfort control developed here can be an attractive alternative to bogies, providing reduced Life Cycle Costs.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Farkostteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Vehicle Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Active control

FE model

Hydraulic actuator modelling

Ride comfort

Structural modes

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)