Simulation Analysis of Forced-Steering Device Impact on Low-Floor Vehicle Curve Passing Performance

Objective Low-floor rail transit vehicles with independent wheelset lack curve guidance capabilities, leading to severe wheel-rail wear, reducing safety and stability of vehicle operation. To solve this problem, an independent wheel forced-steering device with multi-linkage mechanism is proposed, and its influence on curve passing performance of low-floor vehicle is analyzed. Method This device employs a guidance mode of "four-wheel respective guide", that is, the four independent wheels of the bogie are guided by four guide mechanisms respectively. One end of each device is rigidly attached to the short axle of independent wheel and the other end articulated with the adjacent motor car body. When the offset of the independent wheel set on curves is too large, a steering angle is generated between the motor car body and the trailer bogie, and the guide device rod system rotates, driving the independent wheel at the short shaft end to move radially, realizing the forced guidance of the independent wheel. Taking the 70% low-floor light rail vehicle as example, a vehicle-track coupling dynamics calculation model is established in the multi-body dynamics software UM, to conduct a simulation comparison of the train′s curve passing performances before and after the forced guide device installation. Result ＆ Conclusion This device improves all the train curve passing performance indicators to varying degrees, among which the reduction in wheel-rail wear is the most obvious. The proposed forced-steering device can fully improve the difficult problems in independent wheel guidance, effectively control wheel-rail wear, and improve vehicle operation safety.