Abstract:Cars or trains that can tilt toward the inside of curves can make it appear to passengers that there is no lateral acceleration in steady turns. However, during transient conditions associated with changes in curve radius it may not be possible to have zero perceived lateral acceleration. Using the calculus of variations, optimum time histories of tilt angle using several candidate criteria are studied. It is shown that major differences can exist between trains or other fixed guideway vehicles and driver steered vehicles, such as cars or trucks, with respect to the desirable tilting mechanisms and the optimum tilt angle time histories under certain criteria.

Note:Published in Transportation Systems, ASME DSC, vol. 44.