Experimental characterization of the vibration effects on wheels of a mass rapid transit vehicle

The aim of this paper is to present the results coming from an experimental campaign aimed at the definition of the vibrations acting on a powered and a trailer bogie of a railway vehicle for mass rapid transit during commercial service. The results, coming from multiple sensors placed in specific points of the two wheelsets, can give a significative overview of the dynamic behaviour of the two components, highlighting, when present, notable differences. The available sensors gave the possibility to justify and correlate these differences to specific characteristics of the bogies considered. The study stresses the presence of peculiar cyclic solicitations that the wheels and the wheelset undergo during their service. A deeper investigation of the outcoming signals has been carried out keeping into consideration the frequency content associated to the specific measurement system in use. The results of the experimental campaign highlight that powered wheelsets may experience significant high-frequency vibrations induced by gear pairs. The implications of these findings may represent a significant argumentation in the discussion of the design requirements of wheelsets and wheels.