Experiment and analysis for improvement of curving performance with friction control between wheel and rail

This paper presents experimental and analytical results for improvement of curving performance with friction control between wheel and rail. Controlling the friction between wheel and rail is direct and very effective measure to improve the curving performances of railway trucks, because the curving performances depend much on friction characteristics. Authors have proposed a method, “friction control”, which utilizes friction modifier with onboard spraying system. With the method, not only friction coefficient, but also friction characteristics can be controlled as required. In this paper, results of simulation and experiment with two roller machine, 1/10 scaled model vehicle and actual vehicle are reported which play an important role to realize the new method.