Development of Fatigue Prediction System for Bogie Frame Using a Dynamic Analysis Model Based on High-Speed and High-Precision Stress Estimation Method

Abstract

Despite ensuring the integrity of bogie frames for railway vehicles via nondestructive inspections during periodic maintenance, the possibility of fatigue cracks occurring at locations other than the predetermined inspection points cannot be dismissed. Therefore, fatigue cracks can be prevented more efficiently by assessing the overall degree of fatigue damage to the entire bogie frame and determining the results via nondestructive inspections. In this study, dynamic stresses in the bogie frame during running were estimated via finite element dynamic analysis by using the axle box acceleration as input, and the fatigue damage degree and life were calculated from the waveform of the estimated stresses. Furthermore, we developed a bogie frame fatigue prediction system based on a high- speed and high-precision stress calculation method. The developed system visualized the overall relative life.