Dynamic simulation of a high-speed train with interconnected hydro-pneumatic secondary suspension

A secondary suspension configuration that integrates the Interconnected Hydro-Pneumatic Struts (IHPS) to the air spring system is proposed in this investigation for railway vehicles. Using the dynamic performance of IHPS, this suspension aims to provide smaller vertical supporting stiffness and larger anti-roll resistance compared to the traditional configuration, the air spring is connected to an emergency rubber spring in series with quite large stiffness. By replacing the rubber spring with IHPS, the proposed suspension configuration contributes to vibration absorption as well as anti-roll stiffness of the vehicle. The IHPS has two hydraulic cylinders installed in parallel to support the suspended mass. Each hydraulic cylinder has three oil chambers, and the oil chambers between the left and right struts are cross-connected through pipelines. Considering the oil compressibility and the vibration of liquid in the interconnected pipes, the mathematical model of IHPS is formulated and established in MATLAB. A multi-body dynamic railway vehicle model is built in SIMPACK, into which the IHPS is integrated through a co-simulation technique. Model validations on the IHPS are performed and its static and dynamic stiffness is examined. Numerical simulations show that the IHPS suspension reduces the vertical acceleration on the car body floor at a frequency between 1 and 3 Hz than the traditional air spring system with/without an anti-roll bar configuration. The vertical Sperling index of the vehicle using the IHPS suspension is smaller than that of the traditional suspensions, and it is more significant when the air spring deflates. However, the vertical acceleration with IHPS is larger than the traditional suspensions at 13 similar to 55 Hz when the air spring deflates.