An investigation on the Frictional Stick-Slip Effect of Train Brake Blocks on Slack Adjuster

Nutthapong  Kunla; Anan Suebsomran

doi:10.59400/sv3813

An investigation on the Frictional Stick-Slip Effect of Train Brake Blocks on Slack Adjuster

Nutthapong Kunla
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bangkokthonburi University, 16/10 Thawi Watthana Road, Thawi Watthana, Bangkok 10170, Thailand
Anan Suebsomran
Department of Teacher Training in Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technical Education, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharat 1 Road, Bangsue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand

Article ID: 3813

Keywords: friction-induced vibration, railway tread brake, self-excited vibration, Coulomb friction model, slack adjuster compensator

Abstract

Friction-induced vibration is a critical issue in railway tread brake systems, as it can affect braking stability, wear, and the dynamic response of mechanically connected components. This study numerically investigates the self-excited vibration behavior of a tread brake unit and its interaction with a slack adjuster compensator under braking conditions. A simplified single-degree-of-freedom dynamic model incorporating a velocity-dependent Coulomb friction formulation is developed to analyze the vibration response of the brake block under continuous sliding conditions. The governing nonlinear differential equation is solved using the Runge–Kutta method, and time- and frequency-domain analyses are performed to identify dominant vibration characteristics. The numerical results indicate the presence of low-frequency self-excited vibration induced by dry friction, while the contact interface remains in a continuous sliding regime and no classical stick–slip transition involving intermittent adhesion is observed. The dominant vibration frequency is approximately 0.35 Hz, reflecting the global mass–stiffness dynamics of the brake unit rather than high-frequency stick–slip or squeal phenomena. A finite element modal analysis of the slack adjuster compensator shows that its natural frequencies are several orders of magnitude higher than the dominant vibration frequency, indicating that resonance is unlikely under the investigated operating conditions. The findings provide insight into friction-induced vibration mechanisms in railway tread brake systems and their implications for vibration safety and structural integrity.

Published

2026-02-24

How to Cite

Kunla, N., & Suebsomran, A. (2026). An investigation on the Frictional Stick-Slip Effect of Train Brake Blocks on Slack Adjuster. Sound & Vibration, 60(1). https://doi.org/10.59400/sv3813

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Issue

Vol. 60 No. 1 (2026)

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Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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