Maximum Curving Speed
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 4
Abstract
Full equilibrium superelevations are rarely installed on tracks. Consequently, trains run on unbalanced superelevations. Currently, the maximum curving speed is modeled with blanket unbalanced superelevations. Blanket unbalanced superelevations are not desirable for all actual superelevations, regardless of their values. In this paper, the maximum curving speed is modeled to ensure comfort and safety, considering two primary parameters: the curve parameters and the vehicle characteristics. The curve parameters include radius and actual superelevation, and the vehicle characteristics include the height of the center of gravity (c.g.) on top of the rail and the suspension factor. The proposed model has interesting features. It suggests that unbalanced superelevation is proportional to actual superelevation. The maximum curving speed is evaluated against the normal operating speed as the base reference. The model is applied and validated from the point of view of both comfort and safety. The paper suggests a method to divide equilibrium superelevation into actual and unbalanced superelevations.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 4 • April 2014
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 12, 2013
Accepted: Nov 14, 2013
Published online: Dec 26, 2013
Published in print: Apr 1, 2014
Discussion open until: May 26, 2014
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