Limiting Forces on Transit Trucks in Steady-State Curving

This study develops conservative bounds on wheel/rail forces and flange forces for several types of rigid and flexible trucks in steady-state curving conditions. The approximate analysis presented provides closed-form relations for estimating forces, truck angle of attack, creep force saturation and sliding conditions as a function of truck geometry and track parameters. The wheel profiles are modeled by conical wheel treads with vertical wheel flanges. Limiting case transit truck configurations are analyzed to provide comparison of the benefits achievable in curving performance from modification of truck geometry.