Energy increment criteria for evaluation of train derailment

The criteria for evaluation of train derailment were studied. The worldwide commonly used evaluation criteria for wheel derailment were summarized and their main problems were pointed out. The mechanism of train derailment was expounded on the basis of system dynamics stability concept. And the energy increment criteria were proposed to evaluate train derailment. By applying the criteria, the calculated results concerning 6 cases of freight train derailment on tangent railway line and 6 cases of freight train derailment on bridge were obtained, which are all in agreement with the practical situation. The safety, comfort and stability results concerning 3 cases of freight train running on bridge were analyzed. In addition, the running speed limits of freight train on the Yanconggou and Donggou bridge in the Beijing-Tonghua railway line of 50 km/h and 60 km/h, respectively, were proposed. And the running speed of freight train on the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge can reach 70 km/h.