Mechatronic track guidance on disturbed track: The trade-off between actuator performance and wheel wear

Abstract

Future high speed trains are the main focus of the DLR research project Next Generation Train (NGT). This concept is targeted on a very efficient high speed train, which offers 50% more seats per length unit and 50% less energy consumption per seat. The NGT double-decker coaches have two axles with steerable, individually powered, independently rotating wheels. The two motors of each axle hereby fulfil two functions; they concurrently are traction drives and steering actuators. The quality of steering and in consequence the quantity of wear at the wheel rail interface is determined by the available drive torque, which is limited by the maximum motor power at higher speeds. In order to compromise on the design conflict between low wheel wear and low steering torques, the control parameters of a multi-body-model in SIMPACK are optimized using the DLR in-house software MOPS.