The Mechanical Architecture and Structure of the NGT Bogie
In the Next Generation Train (NGT) project, a concept for a 400 km/h double deck passenger electrical multiple unit (EMU) called NGT High Speed Train (HST) has been developed. This train is equipped with lightweight, single-wheelset bogies with actively steerable independently rotating driven wheels. This design allows for low floors through the bogie, enabling NGT HST to offer level access on both floors over the entire length of the train. In addition to the traction motors and their controllers, the linear eddy current brakes and the two-stage adaptive suspension, an optimised lightweight mechanical architecture and structures for the NGT HST bogie have been developed at the DLR. To facilitate this development, a systematic method for the design and simulation of lightweight-optimised running gear structures was created that takes both static and dynamic loads into account. The mechanical structure of the NGT HST bogie consists of welded steel tubes and sheet-metal, with cast nodes at key locations, primarily where loads are introduced. With this design it has been possible to create a bogie concept with a comprehensively lightweight-optimised structure, driven wheels and a total mass of approximately 3 tonnes.
