Numerical simulation and performance prediction of the ejection impact of air springs

To address the challenges of applying air springs in high-speed rail vehicle ejections, the ejection of a driver’s cabin structure is focused on in this study, and an ejection simulation model of an air spring is proposed using a series-parallel combination. The model’s accuracy is verified through virtual collision analysis of the driver’s cabin in a rail vehicle. The ejection velocity exhibits a relative error of only 9.1%. The test vehicle, driven by an air spring, achieves a maximum kinetic energy of 415 kJ, meeting the initial target value of no less than 408 kJ. Additionally, the analysis of the wheel-rail interaction reveals that the vertical lift and lateral displacement of the test vehicle are within acceptable limits, measuring 5.49 and 9.89 mm, respectively, without exceeding the wheel flange height and tread width. These results demonstrate that an air spring with a series-parallel combination can successfully propel the test vehicle to conduct the driver’s cabin collision tests without any derailment or overturning. Research on the ejection performance of air springs in this configuration offers a new driving and ejection method for applying air springs in rail vehicles, drones, and air-launched missiles, presenting promising prospects for future applications.