A trailer car dynamics model considering brake rigging of a high-speed train and its application

Abstract Brake systems are essential for the speed regulation or braking of a high-speed train. The vehicle dynamic performance under braking condition is complex and directly affects the reliability and running safety. To reveal the vehicle dynamic behaviour in braking process, a comprehensive trailer car dynamics model (TCDM) considering brake systems is established in this paper. The dynamic interactions between the brake system and the other connected components are achieved using the brake disc–pad frictions, brake suspension systems, and wheel–rail interactions. The force and motion transmission from the brake system to the wheel–rail interface is performed by the proposed TCDM excited by track irregularity. In addition, the validity of TCDM is verified by experimental test results. On this basis, the dynamic behaviour of the coupled system is simulated and discussed. The findings indicate that the braking force significantly affects vehicle dynamic behaviour including the wheel–rail forces, suspension forces, wheelset torsional vibration, etc. The dynamic interactions within the brake system are also significantly affected by the vehicle vibration due to track irregularity. Besides, the developed TCDM can be further employed to the dynamic assessment of such a coupled mechanical system under different braking conditions.