Braking Performance and Response Analysis of Trains on Bridges Under Seismic Excitation

Earthquakes can trigger emergency braking in urban rail systems, yet the combined effect of braking and ground motion on train–bridge safety remains poorly quantified. Using the Wuxi Metro Line S1 (160 km/h initial speed) on a ten-span simply supported bridge as a case study, we build a multi-body d...

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Main Authors: Yuanqing Lu, Xiaonan Xie, Hongkai Ma, Ping Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6799
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author Yuanqing Lu
Xiaonan Xie
Hongkai Ma
Ping Xiang
author_facet Yuanqing Lu
Xiaonan Xie
Hongkai Ma
Ping Xiang
author_sort Yuanqing Lu
collection DOAJ
description Earthquakes can trigger emergency braking in urban rail systems, yet the combined effect of braking and ground motion on train–bridge safety remains poorly quantified. Using the Wuxi Metro Line S1 (160 km/h initial speed) on a ten-span simply supported bridge as a case study, we build a multi-body dynamic subway model coupled to a finite element track–bridge model with non-linear Hertz wheel–rail contact. Under the design-basis earthquake (PGA ≈ 0.10 g), the train’s derailment coefficient and lateral car body acceleration rise by 37% and 45%, while the bridge’s lateral and vertical accelerations increase by 62% and 30%, respectively. Introducing a constant emergency brake deceleration of 1.2 m/s<sup>2</sup> cuts those train-side peaks by 20–25% and lowers the bridge’s lateral acceleration by 18%. The results show that timely braking not only protects passengers but also mitigates seismic demand on the structure, offering quantitative guidance for urban rail emergency protocols in earthquake-prone regions.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2076-3417
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-7357730f61eb47d0ae35fe019fbf2f2b2025-08-20T03:32:31ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011512679910.3390/app15126799Braking Performance and Response Analysis of Trains on Bridges Under Seismic ExcitationYuanqing Lu0Xiaonan Xie1Hongkai Ma2Ping Xiang3Wuxi Metro Group Co., Ltd., Wuxi 214023, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, ChinaEarthquakes can trigger emergency braking in urban rail systems, yet the combined effect of braking and ground motion on train–bridge safety remains poorly quantified. Using the Wuxi Metro Line S1 (160 km/h initial speed) on a ten-span simply supported bridge as a case study, we build a multi-body dynamic subway model coupled to a finite element track–bridge model with non-linear Hertz wheel–rail contact. Under the design-basis earthquake (PGA ≈ 0.10 g), the train’s derailment coefficient and lateral car body acceleration rise by 37% and 45%, while the bridge’s lateral and vertical accelerations increase by 62% and 30%, respectively. Introducing a constant emergency brake deceleration of 1.2 m/s<sup>2</sup> cuts those train-side peaks by 20–25% and lowers the bridge’s lateral acceleration by 18%. The results show that timely braking not only protects passengers but also mitigates seismic demand on the structure, offering quantitative guidance for urban rail emergency protocols in earthquake-prone regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6799subway brakingseismic analysissafety analysis
spellingShingle Yuanqing Lu
Xiaonan Xie
Hongkai Ma
Ping Xiang
Braking Performance and Response Analysis of Trains on Bridges Under Seismic Excitation
Applied Sciences
subway braking
seismic analysis
safety analysis
title Braking Performance and Response Analysis of Trains on Bridges Under Seismic Excitation
title_full Braking Performance and Response Analysis of Trains on Bridges Under Seismic Excitation
title_fullStr Braking Performance and Response Analysis of Trains on Bridges Under Seismic Excitation
title_full_unstemmed Braking Performance and Response Analysis of Trains on Bridges Under Seismic Excitation
title_short Braking Performance and Response Analysis of Trains on Bridges Under Seismic Excitation
title_sort braking performance and response analysis of trains on bridges under seismic excitation
topic subway braking
seismic analysis
safety analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6799
work_keys_str_mv AT yuanqinglu brakingperformanceandresponseanalysisoftrainsonbridgesunderseismicexcitation
AT xiaonanxie brakingperformanceandresponseanalysisoftrainsonbridgesunderseismicexcitation
AT hongkaima brakingperformanceandresponseanalysisoftrainsonbridgesunderseismicexcitation
AT pingxiang brakingperformanceandresponseanalysisoftrainsonbridgesunderseismicexcitation