Manufacture and testing of air springs used in railway vehicles

Abstract

In this study, the mechanical properties of the air spring used in secondary suspension systems in railway vehicles have been experimentally determined. Firstly, rubber recipes with different components were determined for the production of rubber material, the main raw material of the air spring. Afterward, the mechanical properties of the elastomer material to be used in the manufacture of the air spring were determined by uniaxial tensile tests and RPA (rubber process analyzer) tests were applied to the samples obtained from different types of rubber compound. The machines used for the production of air spring and the test machines used for determining the mechanical properties of the air springs were specially produced and commissioned within the scope of the study. Blasting, airtightness, lifting-expansion, vertical spring coefficient, horizontal spring coefficient and lifetime tests were carried out by using these test machines.