Full-scale Experiment on the Dynamic Behavior of Railway Vehicles against Heavy Track Vibration

The authors have been conducting research on the derailment and overturning of railway vehicles due to earthquakes. Until now, numerical simulation has been used to ascertain the dynamic behavior and running safety limits of vehicles on vibrating track, and the results of such simulation are now used effectively in the design of railway structures. To confirm the validity of the simulation analysis, we carried out an experiment using a full-scale half carbody mounted on a Shinkansen bogie, which was placed on a tri-axial structural vibration test rig. During the test, the carbody, bogie and wheels were seen to jump from the rails, demonstrating behavior against vibration. The simulation analyzed the experimental conditions, and the results agreed with those obtained from the experiment.