Modelling and application of yaw damper with frequency-selective damping on railway vehicles

In this study, a new mechanical yaw damper with frequency-selective damping (FSD) is investigated. The structure principle, modelling and simulation of the damper and its core component, the frequency-selective damping valve, are elaborated. Compared with the conventional damper, the static and dynamic characteristics of the FSD damper have been tested in the experimental bench, and the damping variation rate is proposed to evaluate the damping force variation. A physical parameter model of the yaw damper is established by using the AMESim software, and the simulation accuracy has been verified by comparing the simulated results with the experimental ones. A detailed analysis has been performed for the influence of key parameters of the FSD valve on the mechanical characteristics of the FSD damper. Finally, through the AMESim/Simpack co-simulation method, the dynamic performances of a high-speed locomotive equipped with the FSD yaw damper have been simulated. The results indicate that the FSD yaw damper improves the adaptive stability of railway vehicles in different wheel–rail matching states. In addition, the dynamic performance of the vehicle can be improved when passing through the turnout and narrow curves.