Combined use of dynamical simulation and optimisation to form railway transition curves

This paper describes the original method of searching for a proper shape of railway transition curves (TCs). The relevant literature survey, including some earlier results by present authors, provides a background for this description. In the concept and method, the complete dynamical model of vehicle–track system, capable of simulation, and optimisation methods are exploited. The principles and key details of the method are represented in the paper. They are supplemented with description of the software built to optimise (form) TCs’ shape effectively. Next, results generated with this software and aimed at its testing are presented comprehensively. At the end, selected example of practical optimisation and conclusions are included.