Mathematical modeling and experimental investigation of dynamic track stabiliser vehicle–track coupling system

The dynamic track stabiliser (DTSV) is a special vehicle used for construction and maintenance of ballasted track, and vehicle–track coupling effect contributes dominant influence on the ballast bed state. Research on intelligent perception of ballast bed quality state based on DTSV is urgent to establish a complete vehicle-track coupling model. For the first time, this paper proposes a comprehensive DTSV–track coupled vertical and lateral multi-body dynamics model based on classical vehicle–track coupling dynamics theory. Numerical model and field tests were conducted to validate the mathematical model. In this model, careful consideration is given to the vertical, lateral, roll, yaw, and pitch motions of the vehicle components, including the vehicle body, bogies, wheelsets, and stabilisers. The Shen–Hedrick–Elkins theory and a three-dimensional wheel-rail contact model were employed to describe the nonlinear wheel–rail interaction relationships between the wheelsets and the rails. This comprehensive multi-body dynamics model enables a detailed investigation of the dynamic performance of the railway stabilizing operation carried out by DTSV. The results indicate that the mathematical model can generally describe dynamic characteristics of the vehicle-track coupling system. The results further reveal that the excitation frequency has a significant influence on the vehicle–track coupling dynamics response, an increase vertical pressure will slightly affect the vibration amplitude and the running velocity hardly affect the vibration of the stabiliser.