Methodology of Calculating Maximal Possible Acceleration Limited by the Adhesion Condition for a Traction Vehicle on the Example of the FLIRT ED 160 Model Produced by Stadler

The paper presents a methodology of calculating the maximal possible acceleration of the rail vehicle limited by the adhesion condition. The aim of devising this methodology was to propose to the traction vehicle's purchaser an accessible in computational complexity mathematical apparatus for verification of compatibility of the minimal vehicle's acceleration in a specified velocity section with the conditions of the order. The proposed method was devised in such a way so that the purchaser can theoretically verify the compatibility of the above mentioned acceleration on the basis of the data which constitute the so-called confidential know-how of the vehicle's seller. The equation for the maximal possible acceleration of the rail vehicle limited by the adhesion condition was presented along with its derivation on purpose for the better understanding of the phenomenon. All equations necessary for calculating the discussed acceleration in the method were presented in a table. These equations were showed in the order of calculating the values of the particular coefficients in the method. The devised method enables theoretical verification of the above mentioned condition of the minimal acceleration of the vehicle for diverse types of railroad surfaces (for a sprinkled with sand or a dry railroad, for average conditions, for wet rails). Thanks to this fact, the method may become a condition of general verification of compatibility of the minimal acceleration of the vehicle for a specified velocity section with the conditions of the order. The paper presents also an example of calculation of such acceleration for the FLIRT ED 160 vehicle produced by Stadler. This calculation was performed for wet rails' surface, in the velocity section from 0 to 120 km/h.