Effects of bogie centre plate lubrication on vehicle curving and lateral stability

A combination of track tests, NUCARS™ simulations, and bogie performance detector data analysis has indicated that lubricating the centre plate of a bogie could reduce wheel/rail wear on curves. Centre plate lubrication is more likely a secondary factor for wheel/rail lateral forces in curving as compared to wheel/rail profiles, track lubrication, and other dominant factors. Higher friction at the centre plate can improve vehicle lateral stability on tangent track. Constant-contact side bearings can significantly improve vehicle lateral stability by producing higher resistant moment to the bogie yaw motion.