Comparative Study on Simulation and Experiment of Heavy Haul Train Operation

Heavy haul transportation is an efficient form of railway freight. As the problems increase in heavy haul trains, the research of train longitudinal dynamics has developed rapidly. In the research of train longitudinal dynamics simulation, due to the uncertainty of some parameters, it is common that there are errors between the simulation results and the actual test results, so it is necessary for the simulation results to be compared with experimental results. This can make the simulation systems more realistic. The Chinese heavy haul railway line in-site experiment results are used to compare with simulation results, four situations are considered. They are a 10,000 tonne train idling on a flat line, the train idling on uphill and downhill lines, the traction condition, and the dynamic brake on downgrade line. The results show that the rolling resistance of modern train is much less than that of the regulations on railway train traction calculation. At about 70 km/h and 30 km/h, the actual rolling resistance is 55% and 90% of calculated by RRTTC method, respectively. The actual gradient resistance is basically the same as the calculation result of the RRTTC method. The calculation formula of HXD1 locomotive traction force basically reflects the actual traction force, but the actual traction current should be increased by 15A. The HXD1 dynamic brake force is almost same as the actual brake force. This work is significant for perfecting train longitudinal dynamics models and providing an important basis for accurate calculation of train running states.