Analysis of the running quality and road friendliness of the virtual track train in multiple running stages between stations

A virtual track train runs at fixed stations on designated lines. The short distance between stations requires frequent traction, uniform and braking, which will have a serious impact on vehicle performance and road life. A three-dimensional dynamics model of the virtual track train comprising three vehicles was established based on the theory of vehicle dynamics, tire dynamics, and nonlinear dynamics. The dynamics model comprised vehicle model and tire-road model, considering the dynamic coupling between vehicles and tire-road dynamic interaction. The field dynamic acceleration test of the actual virtual track train was used to validate the developed dynamics model. The running quality and road friendliness of the virtual track train in multiple running stages between stations were evaluated by theoretical analysis and numerical calculation. The results indicated that the running quality in the traction stage and braking stage is smaller than that in the uniform stage. The road friendliness in the uniform stage is better than that in the traction and braking stage. The increase in running speed and the decrease in road grade both reduce the running quality and road friendliness. The increase in acceleration or deceleration makes the road friendliness worse, and it has less impact on the running quality. The research results provide recommendations for the running mode of the virtual track train to improve the running quality. At the same time, they can provide guidance for asphalt pavement laying to slow down the road damage.