The Structure Design And Surface Optimization Of The Axle Box Of Locomotive With Eight Axles

Heavy-load transportation has become the development direction of freight car in china. The diesel locomotive DF4, DF8 and DF11 with the axle style of C₀-C₀ is no longer suited to the Heavy-load train which needs the traction of 5000t. It is a good technical measures to develop eight axles diesel locomotive of high-power. Eight axles locomotives use the axle style of B₀-B₀ + B₀-B₀. Its dynamic performance is very well especially when through the curves, but due to the addition of two power wheel-sets, transition frame and the third suspension, the length and height of the car body are increased, then a lot of difficulties are brought to the design of axle box. The structure of axle box is simple and the rotational arm location form is convenient to the laying of wheel. As the demand of the size and structure of eight-axle locomotive, this structure is also different to the commonly used axle box structure with rotational arm location form.In this paper, finite element analysis is used to the axle box which has complex structure by the software CATIA. Due to the complex structure, using finite element analysis software ANSYS to analyze the model is not only very difficult but not easy to modify the structure of axis box. CATIA was used in aviation and automobile industries initially. It has obvious advantages on the aspects of visual solid modeling design, as well as the surface design and optimization. It is not only convenient and efficient to the design of complex models for designers and also convenient to import the model to the various analysis modules to carry out structural strength, modal, as well as other professional analysis. Once the structure does not meet the requirement of the design, the structure can be modified according to the problems existed. The work-loads are greatly reduced, and the efficiency is improved.Strength calculation result shows that the new axle box structure can meet the strength requirements of the structure; at the same time, the surface optimization of axle box is carried out. Under the premise of meeting the requirements of structural strength, the axle-box's weight is tried to reduce, especially the un-sprung mass of eight-axle locomotive. The impactive effect to the railway is reduced.