COMPUTING SCIENCE Utilisation of Video Game Physics Techniques in Real Time Simulation of the Wheel Rail Interface for Predicted Derailment of Rail Vehicles

We apply real time physics techniques from video game development to the simulation of rail vehicles for rapid analysis of the stability of the wheel rail interface. We introduce a fast simulation algorithm for the wheel rail interface, using a splinebased approach to approximate the gravitational stiffness force. We compare our simulation to results achieved from solving the Nadal equation for a range of rail vehicle speeds. We extend the technique to multiple railway bogies, and use the simulation to gather data on flange collisions. As we use a physics library and techniques designed for real time gaming, our results are achieved considerably more quickly than rail industry standard simulations, allowing for multiple scenarios to be modelled and analysed. © 2014 Newcastle University. Printed and published by Newcastle University, Computing Science, Claremont Tower, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, England. Bibliographical details SIMPSON, M., BLEWITT, W., USHAW, G., MORGAN, G. Utilisation of Video Game Physics Techniques in Real Time Simulation of the Wheel Rail Interface for Predicted Derailment of Rail Vehicles [By] M. Simpson, W. Blewitt, G. Ushaw and G. Morgan Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University: Computing Science, 2014. (Newcastle University, Computing Science, Technical Report Series, No. CS-TR-1438)