The method of estimation of adhesion at “wheel-railway” contact point

Abstract

The problem of locomotive traction formation remains as one of the most important problems of railway transport. This is due to a random component in the friction coefficient describing wage wheels adhesion with the rail surface. The coefficient of adhesion varies depending on several factors: weather conditions, railway surface quality, speed, etc. Formation of the traction are often performed by automatic systems with use of a linear dependences. Fall of adhesion is determined by the derivative of angular velocity of wage wheels rotation or by comparing rotation speeds of several wage wheels. The follow-up traction decrease is usually implemented as a corrective measure. This approach has some obvious disadvantages. In the paper we propose a system of adhesion moment estimation in contact point if “wheel-railway”. For problem solution we use methods and principles of synergetic control theory. As a means for observer design we use methods and principles of the synergetic control theory. In the theory of synergetic control the set of criteria for the control system is usually expressed in the form of an appropriate system of invariants. Invariants act as control objectives, they deliver intended technological problem, but a synergistic design procedure is reduced to finding control laws under which these invariants are satisfied. The availability of information about current adhesion conditions will allow to construct a high-precision adaptive control systems for locomotive electrical drives.