DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, TESTING AND SIMULATION OF FIBRE COMPOSITE LEAF SPRING FOR HEAVY AXLE LOADS

摘要

This paper summarises the design, manufacturing, quasi-static and dynamic testing and finite element analysis of glass fibre reinforced polyester leaf suspension for rail freight vehicles named Euroleaf. Comparison of finite element predictions to experimental results has given confidence in the use of finite elements for the design of composite springs and for performance predictions. The Euroleaf suspension have been mounted on a tipper wagon and tested dynamically at tare and full load on a purpose-built shaker rig. A shaker rig dynamic testing methodology has been pioneered for rail vehicles, which follows closely road vehicle suspension dynamic testing methodology. The use and evaluation of this methodology have demonstrated that the Euroleaf suspension is dynamically much softer than steel suspensions even though it is statically much stiffer. As a consequence, the suspension dynamic loading at laden loading conditions is reduced compared to the most advanced steel leaf suspension over shaker rig track tests.