Maglev Vehicle/Guideway Vertical Random Response and Ride Quality

Summary The research and development (R & D) of maglev technology had made a great progress in China since the early 1980s. Especially, a 35 km-long Shanghai high-speed maglev railway employing the German Transrapid system began to be constructed on March 1, 2001. Based on the Transrapid system, the paper develops a 10-degree-of-freedom model of maglev vehicle running over three types of guideways with constant speed. Random guideway irregularities are discussed and taken into account for simulation of the vehicle response and for evaluation of the ride comfort. Using the direct time integration method and the discrete fast Fourier transform (DFFT), random responses of the maglev vehicle-guideway systems are obtained and analyzed. Numerical results show that the resonant frequency of car body acceleration response is 0.5-1 Hz, and there is a 2.2 Hz periodic vibration due to the periodic configuration of rigid piers when the maglev vehicle travels over the elevated-beam guideway. The car body acceleration power spectral density (PSD) curves meet well the ride quality criterion of the urban tracked aircushion vehicle (UTACV) and the maximum acceleration of car body is less than 0.05 g. Moreover, the Sperling ride index values are less than 2.5 as long as the operational speed is less than 450 km/h. It is concluded that the maglev vehicle ride quality is quite well.     

Prediction of ride quality of a Maglev vehicle using a full vehicle multi-body dynamic model

In magnetically levitated (Maglev) transportation systems, especially in electromagnetic suspension system (EMS) type Maglev systems, highly accurate prediction of ride quality is very important in order to reasonably relax guideway construction tolerances or constraints and stiffness while meeting the specification for ride comfort, thereby reducing guideway construction and maintenance costs. A full vehicle multi-body dynamic model is proposed, to facilitate a rigorous ride quality prediction of an EMS-type Maglev vehicle. Using the more realistic dynamic model proposed in this paper, the effects of guideway deflection limits, surface roughness, and levitation control system parameters on ride quality are studied numerically. The results obtained from the simulation studies are then used to facilitate a discussion of the trade-off between guideway smoothness and vehicle suspension. It can be expected that these studies could suggest cost-effective specifications for guideway construction tolerances and stiffness and EMS.     

Research on the mechanism of a newly developed levitation frame with mid-set air spring

To reduce the vehicle/guideway-coupled vibration and improve the levitation stability of medium–low-speed maglev vehicle, a new type of levitation frame with air springs installed in the middle of the longitudinal beams is developed. This levitation frame with mid-set air spring (LFMAS) is studied comparatively with the levitation frame with end-set air spring (LFEAS) in electromagnetic levitation mode. The coupling degrees of the two kinds of frames are analysed by vertical motion equations; the energy consumptions for levitation control system to overcome the spring resistance in the whole adjustment process are calculated by the energy method; and the vibration accelerations are compared by dynamics analysis and bench test. The equations indicate that the LFMAS has a better decoupling effect and lower energy consumption than that of the LFEAS in any adjustment process. Simulation and test results show that the LFMAS can effectively reduce the vibration acceleration at a low-speed and achieve a better levitation stability in working conditions, validating that the LFMAS has a better levitation performance and adaptability to the guideway, which is attributed to the mechanical decoupling of the levitation module. It is expected that this new levitation frame will be very helpful in enhancing levitation stability and the ride index of medium–low-speed maglev vehicle.     

Design and validation of a slender guideway for Maglev vehicle by simulation and experiment

Normally, Maglev (magnetic levitation) vehicles run on elevated guideways. The elevated guideway must satisfy various load conditions of the vehicle, and has to be designed to ensure ride quality, while ensuring that the levitation stability of the vehicle is not affected by the deflection of the guideway. However, because the elevated guideways of Maglev vehicles in South Korea and other countries fabricated so far have been based on over-conservative design criteria, the size of the structures has increased. Further, from the cost perspective, they are unfavourable when compared with other light rail transits such as monorail, rubber wheel, and steel wheel automatic guided transit. Therefore, a slender guideway that does have an adverse effect on the levitation stability of the vehicle is required through optimisation of design criteria. In this study, to predict the effect of various design parameters of the guideway on the dynamic behaviour of the vehicle, simulations were carried out using a dynamics model similar to the actual vehicle and guideway, and a limiting value of deflection ratio of the slender guideway to ensure levitation control is proposed. A guideway that meets the requirement as per the proposed limit for deflection ratio was designed and fabricated, and through a driving test of the vehicle, the validity of the slender guideway was verified. From the results, it was confirmed that although some increase in airgap and cabin acceleration was observed with the proposed slender guideway when compared with the conventional guideway, there was no notable adverse effect on the levitation stability and ride quality of the vehicle. Therefore, it can be inferred that the results of this study will become the basis for establishing design criteria for slender guideways of Maglev vehicles in future.     

Analysis of dynamic response of the high-speed EMS maglev vehicle/guideway coupling system with random irregularity

A new dynamic model of a high-speed EMS maglev vehicle/guideway interaction is presented. The model considers the vehicle and the guideway as an integral system and couples vertical interaction with lateral interaction. The vehicle subsystem is modeled as a multi-body system, which runs on the guideway with a constant velocity. The guideway substructure is modeled as an elastic beam. The attractive magnetic forces between vehicle and guideway are decided by controller, observer, and filter. A special simulation program is developed. Numerical results of the program are compared with test results. The results show that the coupling model is appropriate and the simulation program is credible primarily. Applications of coupling model to the investigation of the effect of irregularities on maglev system are reported at the end of the paper. The studies in this paper can be used to evaluate and optimize dynamic performances of the high-speed EMS maglev system.     

Analysis of dynamic response of the high-speed EMS maglev vehicle/guideway coupling system with random irregularity

A new dynamic model of a high-speed EMS maglev vehicle/guideway interaction is presented. The model considers the vehicle and the guideway as an integral system and couples vertical interaction with lateral interaction. The vehicle subsystem is modeled as a multi-body system, which runs on the guideway with a constant velocity. The guideway substructure is modeled as an elastic beam. The attractive magnetic forces between vehicle and guideway are decided by controller, observer, and filter. A special simulation program is developed. Numerical results of the program are compared with test results. The results show that the coupling model is appropriate and the simulation program is credible primarily. Applications of coupling model to the investigation of the effect of irregularities on maglev system are reported at the end of the paper. The studies in this paper can be used to evaluate and optimize dynamic performances of the high-speed EMS maglev system.     

汽车主动悬架的单神经元自适应控制

在1/4汽车动力学模型的基础上,设计了汽车主动悬架的自适应神经元控制器。以车辆的行驶平顺性为主要控制目标,车身垂直加速度、悬架动挠度、车轮动位移为具体评价参数,研究了系统在随机路面激励条件下的时域响应,计算了振动响应的均方根值,考察了在变参数条件下控制器的鲁棒性。仿真结果表明,该控制器能有效改善车辆的综合性能,尤其是平顺性和舒适性,并且具有较好的鲁棒性,对模型参数的变化有一定的适应性。     

Vertical random vibration analysis of vehicle–track coupled system using Green's function method

A vertical vehicle–track coupled dynamic model, consisting of a high-speed train on a continuously supported rail, is established in the frequency-domain. The solution is obtained efficiently by use of the Green's function method, which can determine the vibration response over a wide range of frequency without any limitations due to modal truncation. Moreover, real track irregularity spectra can be used conveniently as input. The effect of the flexibility of both track and car body on the entire vehicle–track coupled dynamic response is investigated. A multi-body model of a vehicle with either rigid or flexible car body is defined running on three kinds of track: a rigid rail, a track stiffness model and a Timoshenko beam model. The results show that neglecting the track flexibility leads to an overestimation of both the contact force and the whole vehicle vibration response. The car body flexibility affects the ride quality of the vehicle and the coupling through the track and can be significant in certain frequency ranges. Finally, the effect of railpad and ballast stiffness on the vehicle–track coupled vibration is analysed, indicating that the stiffness of the railpad has an influence on the system in a higher frequency range than the ballast.     

A Two DOF Model for Jerk Optimal Vehicle Suspensions

Researchers have proposed various active suspension concepts to optimize the tradeoff between ride and handling in passenger vehicles. A few investigators suggested inclusion of the passenger jerk, the derivative of the passenger acceleration, as a measure of ride quality in the performance index. Minimization of a performance index then optimizes both the acceleration and jerk as well as other outputs representing handling quality and design constraints. This approach is called jerk optimal control.

This paper compares two different vehicle models of increasing complexity (the one and two DOF quarter car) using jerk optimal control. Different aspects of suspension performance are investigated, including the structure of the system transfer functions, the structure of the force control laws, and the tradeoffs between the various root mean square (rms) outputs defining system ride and handling performance. Tables compare the numerical results of the two models, allowing predictions of actual vehicle performance.

The results of the two models show the same basic trend for the tradeoff between ride and handling quality: at a constant level of rms passenger acceleration the rms passenger jerk can be reduced significantly, but only at a cost of increased rms tire deflections. In physical terms, a softer ride results in degraded handling performance. For a chosen level of ride improvement, the more realistic two DOF quarter car model predicts more severe degradation of handling. The latter nevertheless predicts a substantial increase in vehicle ride quality is possible through a 55% reduction in jerk. It is expected that actual suspensions could also produce significant increases in ride quality through jerk reduction. Jerk optimal suspensions could find use both in higher end passenger vehicles and in transports for vibration sensitive cargo.     

汽车转向与悬架系统的集成控制研究

在建立了汽车转向与悬架系统的综合模型的基础上,运用一种具有扩展的调节器结构LQG控制方法,设计了 主动悬架控制器,实现对车身横摆角速度、车身垂直加速度、车身侧倾角和俯仰角的集成控制,从而显著提高汽车的 平顺性、操纵稳定性和安全性。     

基于整车模型的车-路耦合作用仿真分析

为研究车‐路系统耦合作用下汽车行驶平顺性,运用车辆动力学仿真软件CarSim建立整车模型,并采用傅里叶逆变换法对 GB7031中规定的A~D级路面进行数值仿真与验证,分析了车辆以不同速度行驶在不同等级路面上的加速度和车轮法向动载系数。结果表明:①随着路面等级的降低和车辆行驶速度的提高,车身加速度显著增大,由50 km/h、A级路面上的0.2599 m/s2变化为120 km/h、D级路面上的1.6889m/s2,增加了5.5倍,车辆行驶平顺性下降;②车‐路耦合产生的动载作用受路面工况和车速的影响也较大,由50 km/h、A级路面上的0.0833变化为120 km/h、D级路面上的0.7754,增大8.3倍。路面等级越低,车速越高,动载系数越大,对路面的破坏作用越严重。      

汽车脉冲输入平顺性评价指标限值的研究

在分析了脉冲输入下人体所受到的振动速度响应到基础上，运用ＩＳＯ２６３１新草案对人体健康的评价指标和限值，提出了脉冲输入下汽车平顺性评价指标的限值，最后以东风ＥＱ２１０２Ｃ型军用越野汽车为例，说明了脉冲输入下汽车行驶平顺性的评价过程。     

多轴商用车的行驶平顺性仿真分析

基于拉格朗日方程建立多轴商用车的五自由度振动微分方程,已知激励功率密度前提下,构造了具有复谐和函数特点的多轴商用车的路面虚拟激励,应用复模态分析给出虚拟响应的求解公式。通过虚拟激励法求取了车身垂直加速度的功率谱密度及均方根值,评价了多轴商用车的行驶平顺性。结果表明,复模态和虚拟激励方法结合,进行多轴商用车的行驶平顺性仿真分析,方法简单、易行。     

A dummy for the objective ride comfort evaluation of ground vehicles

A new device for an objective evaluation of ground vehicle ride comfort is presented. In this study, the ride comfort (frequency range 0–30 Hz) has been referred to the acceleration acting along the vertical axis (subject spine) and to the longitudinal acceleration (acting at the subject shoulders). Based on the experimental measurements of such accelerations on different human subjects seated on a car seat, a proper mechanical/mathematical model of the seat+subject has been derived. The derivation of the model has been performed by minimising the error between the measured and the computed accelerations. A prototype of the derived mechanical model has been actually built. Particular attention has been devoted to the construction of the springs, of the moving members and of the magnetic damper. All of the device parameters (mass, stiffness, damping) can be easily tuned. Finally, an experimental validation of the device has been performed. The device, while seated with the same posture of the corresponding human subject is able to reproduce (with reasonable accuracy) both the acceleration along the subject spine and the acceleration at the subject shoulders.     

基于ADAMS／Car低端SUV高速行驶的平顺性仿真分析

针对目前围内市场上的低端SUV存在最高车速较低、高速行驶舒适性不够的问题,本文从理论上分析了行驶速度埘汽午甲顺性的影响,用ADAMS／Car建立了某低端SUV的多刚体动力学模型,并按照半顺性试验标准进行了仿真。经试验证明仿真结果与实验结果吻合,验证了模型的正确。然后,完成了低端SUV不同高速下的平顺性仿真,得出仿真结果与理论分析相一致。最后根据分析结果对模型的优化提出合理建议,为低端SUV高速稳定舒适性研究提供相关参考。     

Comfort enhancement by an active vibration reduction system for a flexible railway car body

In order to improve the ride comfort of lightweight railway vehicles, an active vibration reduction system using piezo-stack actuators is proposed and studied in simulations. The system consists of actuators and sensors mounted on the vehicle car body. Via a feedback control loop, the output signals of the sensors which are measuring the flexible deformation of the car body generate a bending moment, which is directly applied to the car body by the actuators. This bending moment reduces the structural vibration of the vehicle car body. Simulations have shown that a significant reduction in the vibration level is achieved.     

Comfort enhancement by an active vibration reduction system for a flexible railway car body

In order to improve the ride comfort of lightweight railway vehicles, an active vibration reduction system using piezo-stack actuators is proposed and studied in simulations. The system consists of actuators and sensors mounted on the vehicle car body. Via a feedback control loop, the output signals of the sensors which are measuring the flexible deformation of the car body generate a bending moment, which is directly applied to the car body by the actuators. This bending moment reduces the structural vibration of the vehicle car body. Simulations have shown that a significant reduction in the vibration level is achieved.     

四轮独立驱动电动汽车电动轮影响研究

为了分析轮毂电机驱动电动汽车簧下质量变大导致的垂向振动负效应问题,根据自主研发可以四轮独立驱动的轮毂电机电动汽车,建立集中电机和轮毂电机驱动汽车的1/4动力学模型,在相同路面输入下,对汽车平顺性评价指标进行对比分析,说明轮毂电机驱动下电动轮结构对车辆垂向性能的影响。研究结果证明,轮毂电机驱动汽车的车身垂向加速度和轮胎动载荷都有所增加,这种变化将对车辆的行驶平顺性造成一定程度的恶化。