Rail vehicle suspension is responsible for providing proper running behavior and safety. In order to keep appropriate safety level, low wear of wheels and rails, and also regular transport services, it should be monitored. The paper deals with the problem of suspension fault detection by introducing methods implemented in rail and track monitoring system developed within the framework of the project: ‘MONIT – Monitoring of Technical State of Construction and Evaluation of its Lifespan’. The approach to suspension fault detection presented in the paper consists of three levels, especially the method based on the multidimensional analysis of acceleration signals statistical parameters.

The article discusses the use of pivot bearing friction liners, made of selected materials, in railway freight wagons’ spherical centre bowls. Comparative studies on the effect of suspension dynamics on the equivalent stresses in the liner material were carried out using the finite element method and multibody simulation. The results show the magnitude and location of the highest stresses in the liner with varying input loads, friction coefficients and interacting materials. The analysis is a basis for a simulation method for predicting the fatigue life of the suspension friction liner placed in the centre bowl between the bogie frame and the vehicle body.

The aim of the study was to investigate rail vehicle dynamics under primary suspension dampers faults and explore possibility of its detection by means of artificial neural networks. For these purposes two types of analysis were carried out: preliminary analysis of 1 DOF rail vehicle model and a...