A 3D absolute nodal coordinate finite element model to compute the initial configuration of a railway catenary

In this paper we propose a method of finding the initial equilibrium configuration of cable structures discretized by finite elements applied to the shape-finding of the railway overhead system. Absolute nodal coordinate formulation finite elements, which allow for axial and bending deformation, are used for the contact and messenger wires. The other parts of the overhead system are discretized with non-linear bars or equivalent springs. The proposed method considers the constraints introduced during the assembly of the catenary, such as the position of droppers, cable tension, and height of the contact wire. The formulation is general and can be applied to different catenary configurations or transitions both in 2D and 3D with straight or curved track paths. A comparison of the results obtained for reference catenaries in the bibliography is also included.The authors wish to thank Generatitat Valenciana for the financial support received in the framework of the Programme PROME-TEO 2012/023.Tur Valiente, M.; García, E.; Baeza González, LM.; Fuenmayor Fernández, FJ. (2014). A 3D absolute nodal coordinate finite element model to compute the initial configuration of a railway catenary. Engineering Structures. 71:234-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2014.04.015S2342437

Absolute nodal coordinate formulation: Elastic forces and application to wheel/rail interaction.

Absolute nodal coordinate formulation: Elastic forces and application to wheel/rail interaction

Marcello Campanelli Performance of the Incremental and Non-Incremental Finite Element Formulations in Flexible Multibody Problems

and the non-incremental absolute nodal coordinate formulation recently proposed (Shabana, A. A., 1998, Dynamics of Multibody Systems, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridg

Comparing Nonlinear Free Vibrations of Timoshenko Beams with Mechanical or Geometric Curvature Definition

Abstract The nonlinear free oscillations of a planar, initially straight Timoshenko beam are investigated by means of the asymptotic development method. Attention is focus on the difference in considering the "mechanical" vs the "geometric" curvature of the axis of the beam, which are different for extensible beams. A comparison of the results obtained by the two models is proposed, and it is shown when they are equivalent and when they give different nonlinear behaviours. A parametric analysis showing the effects of the slenderness (arbitrary, not necessarily large) and of the stiffness of the right-end axial spring is performed