Dynamic Influence of Wheel Flat on Fatigue Life of the Traction Motor Bearing in Vibration Environment of a Locomotive

Bingbin Guo, Zhixiang Luo, Bo Zhang, Yuqing Liu and Zaigang Chen
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Bingbin Guo: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Duty AC Drive Electric Locomotive Systems Integration, Zhuzhou 412001, China
Zhixiang Luo: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Duty AC Drive Electric Locomotive Systems Integration, Zhuzhou 412001, China
Bo Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Duty AC Drive Electric Locomotive Systems Integration, Zhuzhou 412001, China
Yuqing Liu: State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
Zaigang Chen: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Duty AC Drive Electric Locomotive Systems Integration, Zhuzhou 412001, China

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-18

Abstract: Wheel flat can cause a large impact between the wheel and rail and excites a forced vibration in the locomotive and track structure systems. The working conditions and fatigue life of the motor bearings are significantly affected by the intensified wheel–rail interaction via the transmission path of the gear mesh. In this study, a fatigue life prediction method of the traction motor bearings in a locomotive is proposed. Based on the L−P theory or ISO 281 combined with the Miner linear damage theory and vehicle–track coupled dynamics, the irregular loads induced by the track random irregularity and gear mesh are considered in this proposed method. It can greatly increase the accuracy of predictions compared with the traditional prediction models of a rolling bearing life whose bearing loads are assumed to be constant. The results indicate that the periodic impact forces and larger mesh forces caused by the wheel flat will reduce the fatigue life of the motor bearings, especially when the flat length is larger than 30 mm. Using this method, the effects of the flat length and relatively constant velocity of the locomotive are analyzed. The proposed method can provide a theoretical basis to guarantee safe and reliable working for motor bearings.

Keywords: fatigue life; rolling bearing; wheel–rail contact; gear dynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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