On the quasi-stationary curving dynamics of a railroad truck

We examine three aspects of the dynamics of the Cooperrider truck travelling in a curve with constant radius. First the critical speed is found. Second we investigate the existence of multiple steady solutions to the curving problem. Third - and it is related to the second problem - we examine the position of the truck frame and the wheelsets during curving. One interesting result is that for a given superelevation there exist curve radii for which the critical speed is exceeded, when the vehicle negotiates the curve with the allowed maximum cant deficiency. These critical speeds are lower than the critical speed on straight track.