Single Axle and Articulated-Supporting Truck

摘要

This report presents the results of a project designed to quantify the service performance characteristics of two types of trucks. The first truck treated is essentially a conventional three-piece freight car truck-supporting the articulated connector of a multi-unit prototype intermodal railcar. This truck is referred to as the articulated supporting truck. The second truck investigated is a single axle truck. This truck, as its designation indicates, is a truck with one axle which is capable of yaw with respect to the carbody independent (within physical limits) of the other truck on the same unit. The test methodology is presented in detail including discussions of trucks, instrumentation, test zones, and test matrix. The results are presented and discussed in terms of the wheel/rail force vector (lateral-vertical), angle-of-attack, hunting critical speed, and ride quality. From these observations no intrinsic problems were discovered which would preclude these trucks from further consideration as rail service equipment.