Dynamic optimization of track components to minimize rail corrugation

In this paper, the influence on corrugation of the most significant track parameters has been examined. After this parametric study, the optimization of the track parameters to minimize the undulatory wear growth has been achieved. Finally, the influence of the dispersion of the track and contact parameters on corrugation growth has been studied. A method has been developed to obtain an optimal solution of the track parameters which minimizes corrugation growth, thus ensuring that this solution remains optimum despite dispersion of track parameters and wheel-rail contact uncertainties. This work is based on the computer application RACING (RAil Corrugation INitiation and Growth) which has been developed by the authors to predict rail corrugation features.

A comprehensive method for the elastic calculation of the two-point wheel-rail contact

This work shows the method developed to solve the wheel-rail contact problem via a look-up table with a three-dimensional elastic model. This method enables introduction of the two contact point effect on vehicle movement using three-dimensional analysis of surfaces including the influence of the angle of attack. This work presents several dynamic simulations and studies the impact that the introduction of the two contact points on three dimensions has on wear indexes and derailment risk against traditional bidimensional analysis. Furthermore, it studies advantages and disadvantages of using a look-up table against an on-line resolution of the problem.

Design of an optimised wheel profile for rail vehicles operating on two track gauges

This paper sets out an optimum synthesis methodology for wheel profiles of railway vehicles in order to secure good dynamic behaviour with different track configurations. Specifically, the optimisation process has been applied to the case of rail wheelsets mounted on double gauge bogies, that move over two different gauges, which also have different types of rail: the Iberian gauge (1668 mm) and the UIC gauge (1435 mm). Optimisation is performed using Genetic Algorithms and traditional optimisation methods in a complementary way. The objective function used is based on an ideal equivalent conicity curve which ensures good stability on straight sections and also proper negotiation of curves. To this end the curve is constructed in such a way that it is constant with a low value for small lateral wheelset displacements (with regard to stability), and increases as the displacements increase (to facilitate negotiation of curved sections). Using this kind of ideal conicity curve also enables a wheel profile to be secured where the contact points have a larger distribution over the active contact areas, making wear more homogeneous and reducing stresses. The result is a wheel profile with a conicity that is closer to the target conicity for both gauges studied, producing better curve negotiation while maintaining good stability on straight sections of track. The paper shows the resultant wheel profile, the contact curves it produces, and a number of dynamic analyses demonstrating better dynamic behaviour of the synthesised wheel on curved sections with respect to the original wheel.

Handover en LTE basado en distancia en plataforma de simulación

[ES]Mejorar el proceso de handover en el despliegue de comunicaciones inalámbricas de banda ancha tradicionalmente ha motivado muchas iniciativas de investigación. En el dominio de los ferrocarriles de alta velocidad, el reto es incluso mayor. Debido a las largas distancias que se cubren, el nodo móvil se ve envuelto en una secuencia obligatoria de procesos de handover. Consecuentemente, un rendimiento pobre en la ejecución de esos procesos de handover degrada significativamente el rendimiento global extremo a extremo. Este documento propone una nueva estrategia de handover para el dominio de los ferrocarriles: un algoritmo de decisión para LTE basado en distancia en lugar de en potencia. La decisión de realizar el handover se realiza cuando un eNB candidato se encuentra más cerca del UE que el eNB fuente. Adicionalmente, cabe la posibilidad de retrasar esa decisión mediante un umbral. Asimismo, se añade una nueva función al modelo de LTE de la plataforma de simulación empleada en la verificación de este modelo. Este mecanismo de decisión introduce un retardo menor en los procesos de handover y, en consecuencia, la calidad extremo-a-extremo aumenta.

A study of the proposed Santa Fe extension from the present Redondo Branch at El Segundo to Los Angeles Harbor

The Los Angeles Harbor at San Pedro with its natural advantages, and the big development of these now underway, will very soon be the key to the traffic routes of Southern California. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railway company realizing this and, not wishing to be caught asleep, has planned to build a line from El Segundo to the harbor. The developments of the harbor are not the only developments taking place in these localities and the proposed new line is intended to include these also.

A comparison of the costs of operation of the motor bus, Birney safety car, and trolley bus on the local transportation routes in Pasadena

With the installation by the Pacific Electric Railway of a bus system in Pasadena to supplant most of its trolley lines, the problem of the comparison of the costs of the two systems naturally presented itself. The study here undertaken was originally started as just a comparison of the motor bus and Birney Safety Car, but as the work progressed it seemed advisable to include the trolley bus as well - a method of transportation that is comparatively new as far as development is concerned, but which seems to be finding increasing favor in the East.

Modelización acústica del interior de un Tren de Alta Velocidad

[ES]El presente Trabajo de Fin de Grado, titulado ‘Modelización Acústica del Interior de un Tren de Alta Velocidad’, tiene como objetivo el análisis acústico a bajas frecuencias del habitáculo de un coche de un tren de alta velocidad. La temática ha sido elegida debido a la creciente presencia de trenes de alta velocidad en nuestro entorno, en los cuales el Control Acústico o de Ruidos es un aspecto muy importante para el confort del medio de transporte. Dentro de los ruidos por los que se ve afectado el tren, los de baja frecuencia son los más difíciles de tratar y controlar, y es por ello que van a constituir la línea de trabajo de este proyecto. La estructura de lo que se va a tratar en este proyecto es la siguiente: En primer lugar, se analizará el contexto en que se encuadra este proyecto y las razones que han llevado a su realización. Posteriormente, se explicarán los fundamentos teóricos que hay detrás de los análisis que se van a realizar. Más adelante se pasará al análisis del caso práctico que se ha elegido para ilustrar el proyecto: el habitáculo de un coche del tren Serie 120 de Renfe, construido por CAF [1, 2, 3]. Se realizarán tanto análisis modales como de respuesta forzada. Dicho ejemplo servirá de base para asentar las conclusiones y proponer la aplicación que se les puede dar a éstas, así como las líneas de investigación para las cuales este proyecto puede ser un punto de partida.

Design of a timber Howe truss highway bridge

The span of the bridge was assumed as 100 feet. The type of bridge used is the timber Howe Truss. The height of truss was taken as 20 feet between center lines of top and bottom chords. The width was taken as 18 feet center to center of trusses. The truss was divided up into five panels 20 feet long.

It was designed according to the "General Specifications for Steel Highway Bridges" by Ketchum. For the live load for the floor and its supports, a load of 80 pounds per square foot of total floor surface or a 15 ton traction engine with axles 10 feet centers and 6 feet gage, two thirds of load to be carried by rear axles.

For the truss a load of 75 pounds per square foot of floor surface.

For the wind load the bottom lateral bracing is to be designed to resist a lateral wind load of 300 pounds per foot of span; 150 pounds of this to be treated as a moving load.

The top lateral bracing is to be designed to resist a lateral wind force of 150 pounds per foot of span.

The timber to be used in the bridge is to be Douglas fir.

The unit stresses used for timber are those of the American Railway Engineering Association.

Estimação de velocidade de composições usando processamento de vídeo

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo estudar um método para estimar a velocidade de veículos ferroviários usando processamento de vídeo. O sistema proposto consiste na utilização de câmeras ao longo das vias férreas que permitam não só o monitoramento do tráfego ferroviário, mas cujo vídeo captado possa ser utilizado para a obtenção de estimativas para a velocidade instantânea dos trens que por ela trafegam. Tal sistema seria utilizado independentemente dos sistemas de controle já utilizados pela operadora do sistema ferroviário, permitindo que os controladores possam ter uma segunda análise no caso de falha da primeira, assim como um modelo que permita avaliar a velocidade instantânea do veículo ferroviário ao longo do percurso. Os algoritmos de rastreamento empregados para esse fim abordaram diferentes métodos. Confrontaram-se os resultados obtidos com os algoritmos propostos com os dados empíricos de forma a determinar aquele com melhor resposta dada as características do sistema. O algoritmo que apresentou os melhores resultados emprega um único bloco de referência para todos os quadros comparados. A métrica de similaridade responsável por determinar quais blocos são mais ou menos similares dentro do universo de busca estipulado é a soma de diferenças absolutas (SAD, Sum of Absolute Differences). O tempo de processamento requerido por cada um dos métodos de rastreamento estudados também foi considerado nas avaliações de resultados apresentadas. Uma comparação realizada entre as velocidades coletadas e aquelas informadas pelo sistema de controle mostraram que os resultados obtidos com o sistema atual, utilizando a sinalização apenas por circuito de via apresenta resultados pouco confiáveis com erros bastante significativos. Os resultados obtidos com o sistema proposto apresentaram erros menores quando comparados àqueles obtidos pelo sistema vigente, apresentando-se assim como uma solução viável e de baixo custo quando comparada às técnicas atualmente empregadas para a medida de velocidade de trens.

Modelización acústica del interior de un tren de alta velocidad.

[ES]El presente Trabajo de Fin de Grado titulado 'Modelización Acústica del Interior de un Tren de Alta Velocidad' tiene como tarea la realización de diversos análisis acústicos de un habitáculo de un coche ferroviario. El principal objetivo va a ser ofrecer una guía detallada a modo de manual de usuario para llevar a cabo dichos análisis sin necesitar información adicional. Las herramientas de ayuda a utilizar van a ser un programa CAD de diseño como Solid Edge ST6 o Catia V5 y un software de elementos finitos como Ansys.

Modelling and Simulation of ERTMS for Current and Future Mobile Technologies

Nowadays, train control in-lab simulation tools play a crucial role in reducing extensive and expensive on-site railway testing activities. In this paper, we present our contribution in this arena by detailing the internals of our European Railway Train Management System in-lab demonstrator. This demonstrator is built over a general-purpose simulation framework, Riverbed Modeler, previously Opnet Modeler. Our framework models both ERTMS subsystems, the Automatic Train Protection application layer based on movement authority message exchange and the telecommunication subsystem based on GSM-R communication technology. We provide detailed information on our modelling strategy. We also validate our simulation framework with real trace data. To conclude, under current industry migration scenario from GSM-R legacy obsolescence to IP-based heterogeneous technologies, our simulation framework represents a singular tool to railway operators. As an example, we present the assessment of related performance indicators for a specific railway network using a candidate replacement technology, LTE, versus current legacy technology. To the best of our knowledge, there is no similar initiative able to measure the impact of the telecommunication subsystem in the railway network availability.

ETCS protokoloaren hedatzea simulazio hibridodun ingurune batean System-in-the-loop erreminta erabiliz.

[EU]Gaur egun, Europa mailan European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) seinaleztapen-sistema bateratua hedatzen ari dira trenbide sare desberdinen arteko elkar eragintasuna bultzatzeko. Proiektu honen helburua da ERTMS sistemaren barneko ETCS protokoloa hedatzea simulazio hibridodun ingurune batean, ERTMS sistemaren hedatzea azkartuko duten erakusleak sortuz. Horretarako, OPNET simulagailuaren System-in-the-loop erreminta erabili da. Erreminta hau baliatuz ETCS protokoloaren pakete errealak ingurune simulatuan integratzeko funtzioen liburutegi bat idatzi da. Amaitzeko, liburutegi hori baliatuz ETCS protokoloak sareko arazoen aurrean duen errendimenduaren analisi bat burutu da eta liburutegi berri horrek pakete errealak simulatuetara itzultzean (eta kontrakoa) duen errendimendua zein den aztertu da.

Implementación de sistema ETCS en entorno cliente-servidor.

[ES]La interoperabilidad entre distintas redes ferroviarias europeas es muy escasa. Para dar solución a este problema, la Unión Europea creó el sistema europeo de gestión del tráfico ferroviario (ERTMS), encargado de crear un estándar único para toda la red europea. El objetivo de este proyecto es la implementación del sistema ETCS ( European Train Control System ) en un entorno cliente-servidor. La implementación incluye el sistema del tren y el del centro de control (RBC). Se ha implementado de forma que se pueda operar sobre dos protocolos de red transporte, de forma que será compatible tanto para redes orientadas a la conexión (TCP) como no orientadas a conexión (UDP).