Impact coefficient analysis of track beams due to moving suspended monorail vehicles.

To study the impact coefficient of track beams due to moving suspended monorail vehicles under the bridge deck, this paper presents a vehicle-bridge dynamic model based on the rigid-flexible coupling method. Finite element method is used to establish the bridge model, and the vehicle is simulated as a multi-body dynamic model The mechanical characteristics of running tire are precisely modelled and the dynamic equations for the suspended monorail vehicle-bridge coupling system are derived. The proposed approach employs a double-line 7-span bridge with 210 m length as a numerical example, the impact performance of two track beams are studied and the results are verified by comparing with the theoretical solutions. The influences of critical system parameters, such as the train formation and double-line trains loads, on the dynamic responses of vehicles and the bridge are explored. The results show that it is feasible to study the impact effect with the proposed method. The separation phenomenon of rubber running tires jumping up on track surface occurs when vehicle speed is high, which may lead to negative impact coefficients. The impact coefficients of the track beam vary much with different locations, which can even be negative values at locations nearing the pier area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]