Acuracy improvement of measurements by analyzing dynamic response of a tram wheel roller-rig

Abstract

Railway transport is becoming popular due to efficiency in long distances also being an environment-friendly solution when it is compared to other transportation methods. Thus, more innovative solutions to existing problems are essential. Roller-rigs are very efficient testing tools which are widely prevalent around the world for researchers studying on the railway industry directly or indirectly. They are being used for validating, testing, improving the railway vehicles or related components from many years. Hence, demanding to the roller-rigs are also increasing parallel to the development of the railway industry. In this study, a full-scale vertical plane tram wheel roller-rig has been investigated from several aspects in order to provide improvement of its measurement capabilities and dynamic behaviour. Firstly, the issues related to the measurements and behaviour have been determined. Followingly, the possible hypothesis of the reasons for the issues proposed and these hypotheses have been tested in a systematically order to verify or falsify. From the general aspect the system divided into two components; Mechanical parts, Electric parts. From the mechanical aspect, the whole system considered as two sub-systems which are steady parts and moving parts. In order to define their behaviour and influence on the measurement quality, several numerical and experimental studies have been performed in order. Steady parts of the system (Frame) has been investigated by an FE solution, and the obtained values have been verified via experimental study. Moving parts (Wheel, Rotating Rail and Motors) have been modelled on MATLAB environment and results of the simulation has been verified by experimental studies. After verification of the simulation, several parametric studies have been performed, and two main solutions have been generated in order to eliminate the issues regarding the measurement quality and dynamic behaviour. From the data acquisition aspect, a smoothing filter has been generated in order to provide better measurement results. Two main solutions have been provided and simulated on verified models. Also, the generated filter has been tried for a variety of speeds. With the generated solutions, the measurement issues have been eliminated, and dynamic behaviour has been improved.