Book

This groundbreaking study explores the fatigue strength of anti-yaw damper brackets within a fabricated bolster specifically designed for freight locomotives, addressing failures in traditional casting designs that lacked viscous yaw dampers and relied on secondary suspension snubbers for damping. The book introduces an innovative welded bogie frame incorporating damper brackets, significantly enhancing dynamic stability and ride comfort. Utilizing advanced simulations, the study models realistic wheel-rail interactions, varying friction coefficients, and track irregularities across different speeds. Dynamic analyses reveal reduced Y-forces and S-forces by factors of 2-3 at higher speeds, enabling safe operation on standard tracks. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) evaluates static and fatigue strength per standard. Weld integrity is assessed per corresponding guidelines. Results, validated through comparisons of FEM and experimental stress analyses under various load cases, demonstrate compliance with standards, strong correlation between methods, and superior fatigue resistance without introducing new issues. Dynamic evaluations against Prud'homme limits confirm enhanced performance under new/worn wheels and damped/undamped conditions. This book pioneers a systematic redesign framework for legacy bogie systems, contributing empirical insights for future railway engineering standards. It not only improves passenger comfort but also fosters safer, more reliable, and efficient railway operations.