Dynamic analysis of train-bridge interaction system with flexible car-body

Lighter vehicles are used in high-speed trains and urban rail transit trains, which leads to lesser stiffness of car-bodies, so car-body flexibility should be considered in dynamic analysis of the train-bridge system. In this paper, the vehicle model is established based on flexible multi-body dynamics, in which the car-body is simulated with an Euler beam, and the movement of the car-body is the superposition of its rigid displacement and the generalized displacement of vibration mode of the Euler beam with free boundaries. The dynamic analysis model of train-bridge model is established using the flexible car-body model. A case study is performed of an ICE3 train running on a (48+80+48) m three-span continuous girder bridge. The calculated results show that the car-body flexibility has little influence on bridge responses and vehicle running safety indices, but great influence on car-body accelerations. It is necessary to consider the car-body flexibility, especially in studying the influence of additional bridge deformations on vehicle responses.