Simulating the Vibration Environment for Locomotive-Based Friction Control Applications Systems

Under the direction of the Association of American Railroads Vehicle/Track System Committee, a laboratory test qualification formula/specification for locomotive-based top-of-rail (TOR) friction modifier application system hardware has been developed. This document describes the development and demonstration process, including measurement of the vibration field environment and an initial test of one TOR component in a laboratory vibration and thermal test. Revenue service onboard locomotive vibration environment was measured continuously during two tests in late-2001 and early-2002. The first test measured responses in a train hauling auto parts while the second measured responses in a train hauling coal. Results of the first simulation suggest that many of the issues experienced from over the road field tests, such as clogging and variable output due to temperatures, were simulated and reproduced in the laboratory simulation.