Moving element analysis of partially filled freight trains subject to abrupt braking

This paper is concerned with a computationally efficient numerical study on the dynamic response of a partially filled freight train subject to abrupt braking using the moving element method. The motion of liquid inside the freight container is modelled based on the potential flow theory. A trigonometric function is employed to represent the free surface elevation of the liquid cargo. The vehicle components are represented by interconnected rigid multi-bodies and the track is modelled by a Euler beam resting on a viscously damped Pasternak-type foundation. The accuracy of the liquid sloshing model is examined by comparison with available results in the literature. This paper also investigates the effect of the liquid cargo filling level, the initial train speed and the braking torque on the dynamic response of the coupled liquid freight train-track system.