Updating method applied to a finite-element model of a railway bogie

In order to optimize the dynamic behaviour of a braking-system on a railway coach, a finite element model of a bogie has been made. The updating of the model using modal experimental data is presented. Details on the different steps of the tuning procedure are given: correlation analysis which allows to locate and suppress the defaults of the model and of the experimental modal basis, sensitivity analysis which allows to highlight the physical parameters effectively acting on the dynamic response, model updating based on the sensitivity analysis. Two bogie configurations are studied: the bogie frame without equipments in free conditions, the bogie resting on wheelsets and connected to the coach, with its equipments. The final values of the physical parameters and some difficulties, encountered during the model tuning, are discussed.