Rail Vehicle Mechatronics

This unique and up-to-date work surveys the use of mechatronics in rail vehicles, notably traction, braking, communications, data sharing, and control. The results include improved safety, comfort, and fuel efficiency. Mechatronic systems are a key element in modern rail vehicle design and operation. Starting with an overview of mechatronic theory, the book covers such topics as modeling of mechanical and electrical systems for rail vehicles, open and closed loop control systems, sensors, actuators, and microprocessors. Modern simulation techniques and examples are included throughout the book. Numerical experiments and developed models for railway application are presented and explained. Case studies are used, alongside practical examples, to ensure that the reader can apply mechatronic theory to real world conditions. These case studies include modeling of a hybrid locomotive and simplified models of railway vehicle lateral dynamics for suspension control studies. Rail Vehicle Mechatronics provides current and in-depth content for design engineers, operations managers, systems engineers, and technical consultants working with freight, passenger, and urban transit railway systems worldwide.

Real-time simulations of the behaviour of a rail vehicle require realistic solutions of the wheel-rail contact problem which can work in a real-time mode. Examples of such solutions for the online mode have been well known and are implemented within standard and commercial tools for the simulation codes for rail vehicle dynamics. This book is the result of the research activities carried out by the Railway Technology Lab of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. This book presents work on the project for the development of a real-time wheel-rail contact model and provides the simulation results obtained with dSpace real-time hardware. Besides this, the implementation of the contact model for the development of a real-time model for the complex mechatronic system of a scaled test rig is presented in this book and may be useful for the further validation of the real-time contact model with experiments on a full scale test rig.

Keep Up with Advancements in the Field of Rail Vehicle Design A thorough understanding of the issues that affect dynamic performance, as well as more inventive methods for controlling rail vehicle dynamics, is needed to meet the demands for safer rail vehicles with higher speed and loads. Design and Simulation of Rail Vehicles examines the field of rail vehicle design, maintenance, and modification, as well as performance issues related to these types of vehicles. This text analyzes rail vehicle design issues and dynamic responses, describes the design and features of rail vehicles, and introduces methods that address the operational conditions of this complex system. Progresses from Basic Concepts and Terminology to Detailed Explanations and Techniques Focused on both non-powered and powered rail vehicles—freight and passenger rolling stock, locomotives, and self-powered vehicles used for public transport—this book introduces the problems involved in designing and modeling all types of rail vehicles. It explores the applications of vehicle dynamics, train operations, and track infrastructure maintenance. It introduces the fundamentals of locomotive design, multibody dynamics, and longitudinal train dynamics, and discusses co-simulation techniques. It also highlights recent advances in rail vehicle design, and contains applicable standards and acceptance tests from around the world. • Includes multidisciplinary simulation approaches • Contains an understanding of rail vehicle design and simulation techniques • Establishes the connection between theory and many simulation examples • Presents simple to advanced rail vehicle design and simulation methodologies Design and Simulation of Rail Vehicles serves as an introductory text for graduate or senior undergraduate students, and as a reference for practicing engineers and researchers investigating performance issues related to these types of vehicles.

This volume presents an integrated approach of the common fundamentals of rail and road vehicles based on multibody system dynamics, rolling wheel contact and control system design. The methods presented allow an efficient and reliable analysis of the resulting state equations. The book provides also a better understanding of the basic physical phenomena of vehicle dynamics. Particular attention is paid to developments of future rail and road vehicles including motorcycles.

This book showcases how EcoMechatronics can increase sustainability within engineering and manufacturing. It brings together material from experts in core mechatronics technologies, discussing the challenges related to moving towards more environmentally friendly methods, and presenting numerous case studies and examples of EcoMechatronics oriented applications. The book begins with an introduction to EcoMechatronics in the context of sustainability, before covering core conceptual, technical and design issues associated with EcoMechatronics. It then offers a series of case studies and examples of EcoMechatronics oriented applications and finally, a consideration of the educational issues associated with moving to a new generation of environmentally oriented mechatronic engineers. EcoMechatronics will be of interest to practicing engineers, researchers, system developers. and graduate students in the field of mechatronics and environmental engineering.

Mechatronics, a synergistic combination of mechanical, electronic and computing engineering technologies, is a truly multidisciplinary approach to engineering. New products based on mechatronic principles are demonstrating reduced mechanical complexity, increased performance and often previously impossible capabilities. This book contains the papers presented at the UK Mechatronics Forum's 6th International Conference, held in Skövde, Sweden, in September 1998. Many of these high-quality papers illustrate the tremendous influence of mechatronics on such areas as manufacturing machinery, automotive engineering, textiles manufacture, robotics, and real-time control and vision systems. There are also papers describing developments in sensors, actuators, control and data processing techniques, such as fuzzy logic and neural networks, all of which have practical application to mechatronic systems.

This volume records the accepted papers of 2013 International Conference on Mechatronics and Industrial Informatics (ICMII 2013) which took place in Guangzhou, China between 30-31 March 2013. Volume is indexed by Thomson Reuters CPCI-S (WoS). The papers are grouped as follows: Chapter 1: Theory of Mechanisms and Mechanical Engineering, Dynamics of System Applications; Chapter 2: Materials Research, Manufacturing Technologies in Materials; Chapter 3: Electronics and Microelectronics Technology; Chapter 4: Optoelectronic Devices and Technology; Chapter 5: Sensors and Information Fusion Technology; Chapter 6: Measurement Technology and Instruments; Chapter 7: Modeling and Simulation Technology of Systems; Chapter 8: Voice, Image and Video Processing; Chapter 9: Signal Processing Systems Design and Implementation; Chapter 10: Power Engineering and Automation; Chapter 11: Industrial Robotics and Automation; Chapter 12: Vehicle Control Systems; Chapter 13: Design and Control in Modern System Engineering and Mechatronics; Chapter 14: Intelligent Control, Structural Engineering Analysis, CAD Optimized Design; Chapter 15: Artificial Intelligence Techniques; Chapter 16: Intelligent Optimization Algorithms and Applications; Chapter 17: Computer Information Processing Technology; Chapter 18: Industrial Informatics and Applications; Chapter 19: Database System; Chapter 20: Information Security; Chapter 21: Computer Networks and Communication; Chapter 22: Software Engineering; Chapter 23: E-Commerce/E-Government; Chapter 24: Engineering Management and Engineering Education

The motion of the train depends on the traction of linear motors in the vehicle. This book describes a number of essential technologies that can ensure the safe operation of Maglev trains, such as suspension and orientation technologies, network control and diagnosis technologies. This book is intended for researchers, scientists, engineers and graduate students involved in the rail transit industry, train control and diagnosis, and Maglev technology.