Mathematical Modelling of Work of Modern Friction-Polymer Shock Absorbers and Determining the Dynamical Force during Impact

Abstract

Shock absorbers are main elements into construction of train wagons that secure protection from longitudinal forces which appear during transitional regimes of movement. Besides, development of new constructive solutions for shock absorbers is quite popular development of their working mathematical models. This paper presents modern shock absorber with elastic block made from polymer elements that increase quantity of absorbed energy. This is achieved by increasing the stiffness characteristic of polymer elastic block. The construction is relatively simple and technology used to create the construction is with more or less low price. If there is not enough elastic stiffness of the polymer block, there is a possibility for not meeting the UIC (International Union of Railways) norms for absorbed energy. Therefore, according to the mentioned characteristic, shock absorbers are divided into three groups. The mathematical model presented in this paper allows calculating the necessary elastic characteristic of the polymer block for a short time. Differential equation of movement of the shock absorber elements is presented in this paper. Force change of polymer block for various impact velocities participates in the differential equation of movement where initial velocity V0 and the current meaning of the velocity are taken into consideration. The presented equation is solved by using program language MATLAB/Simulink by developing a simulation model.