Dynamic Measurements in the Research and Development of Rail Vehicles

SUMMARY This paper reviews the measurements which are necessary to all aspects of vehicle dynamics as applied to rail vehicles. Although an attempt has been made to introduce some reference to measurements made in Europe and America, the detailed discussion has been limited to those techniques employed by British Rail. This has the advantage that the discussion can be first hand and therefore more specific. For convenience the measurements have been collected together under four broad headings. 1. Measurements of rail system data. 2. Measurements of vehicle parameters. 3. Measurements to validate theory and predictions. 4. Measurements of vehicle performance.