Televic gains a better understanding of the behaviour of train bogies

Better understanding of the behaviour of train bogies

Televic Rail, part of the Televic Group, develops a wide range of systems, from passenger information systems to maintenance and safety-related systems. To further improve the latter, an in-depth understanding of the mechanical behaviour of train bogies is essential.

An important part of a train is the bogie: the undercarriage with wheels, axles and suspension on which a carriage or locomotive rests. This undercarriage helps determine how a train runs, brakes and reacts to bends, vibrations and unevenness in the track. This is relevant for Televic Rail because a better understanding of the bogie’s behaviour can contribute to smarter monitoring and faster active intervention in safety-critical situations.

That was precisely the challenge. Televic wanted to be able to better assess which forces act on a train undercarriage in various situations, such as when accelerating, braking or during the train’s movements. In practice, not all of these forces can be measured directly. That is why Televic collaborated with Flanders Make@KU Leuven to develop a digital model of a train bogie. This model was built using the internally developed MultiBody Research Code, in combination with commercial simulation software.

Model for two different analyses

This model enabled two types of analysis to be carried out. On the one hand, simulations were performed to determine how an existing bogie behaves under various conditions, based on known parameters and imposed movements or loads. On the other hand, it was investigated how sensor data — such as measurements of acceleration, rotation and deformation — can be used to indirectly estimate the forces acting on the undercarriage. This not only provided a better picture of the bogie’s behaviour but also allowed quantities to be measured that are physically impossible to measure directly.

The modelling approach assumed that it is primarily the bogie frame itself that deforms, whilst other components, such as the axles, can be considered rigid. This made it possible to analyse the system’s key dynamics in a targeted manner, without making the model unnecessarily complex.

Valuable insights into vehicle behaviour

For Televic, this collaboration provides valuable insights into a complex part of the train vehicle. By combining simulation and sensor data, a stronger framework is created to better understand vehicle behaviour and support monitoring more intelligently. At the same time, this case demonstrates how research knowledge from multi-body modelling and simulation can be translated into a concrete application relevant to the rail sector.