Nonlinear impact of traction rod on the dynamics of a high-speed rail vehicle carbody

This paper focuses on the bogie-carbody nonlinear dynamic interaction of a Shinkansen high-speed rail vehicle. The Euler-Bernoulli beam model is used to simulate vertical elastic vibrations of the carbody. As a novelty, the traction rod that connects the bogie frame and the carbody is considered a nonlinear element. The equivalent linearization method is used to analyze the nonlinear vehicle system in the frequency domain. The analytical spectrum solution was compared with the measured data from the running test and the numerical solution in the time domain. When the dynamic interaction due to the carbody’s flexibility is considered as nonlinear rather than linear, the maximum amplitude of the bounce acceleration relevant to the first bending mode increases by 38.2 percent at a travel speed of 300 km/h. Ride comfort improvement can be achieved with the inclusion of the nonlinear interaction. It is also feasible to manipulate the vehicle’s ride comfort by altering its bogie-base.