Experimental investigation of global stability against hunting oscillation using a real bogie

Abstract

Hunting oscillation is unfavorable to the running stability because it can generate relatively large lateral force between the wheels and tracks. In addition, once hunting oscillation occurs, it lasts until the running speed is reduced to some degree. Therefore, we have studied global stability against hunting oscillation by conducting hunting motion tests using a real bogie on roller rigs. In this study, we confirmed that there exists a clear point where initial lateral displacement of the wheelset caused hunting oscillation. Then, we concluded that the point in question originated from unstable limit cycles, generated by subcritical Hopf bifurcation. On the basis of the obtained global stability, we devised a simple method that could make the hunting oscillation converge to the equilibrium point by oscillating the roller rig, without slowing down the rotational speed of roller rigs.