Research progress on intelligent control and maintenance technology of railway vehicle braking system

Focusing on the microcomputer-controlled direct electro-pneumatic braking system commonly used in railway vehicle, the structural composition, working principle, and control principle of the braking system were introduced, the technical characteristics of the braking system were analyzed, and the technical development trend of the intelligent braking system was summarized and discussed. The research status and existing problems of the braking system were reviewed from the two aspects of intelligent control and intelligent maintenance. Research result shows that the braking system of the railway vehicle is a complex mechanic-electric-pneumatic(hydraulic) coupled dynamic time-varying nonlinear control system, and its service process and failure behavior have the characteristics of uncertainty, fuzziness, and small samples. In terms of braking system control technology, compared with the theoretical braking force control, the two braking control modes of speed adhesion control and deceleration control have improved control effects when dealing with external interference. Aiming at uncertain factors such as external interference, performance degradation, or latent faults in the control of the braking system, an autonomous intelligent control based on parameter identification and closed-loop feedback is the development trend of the intelligent control technology of the braking system. The core goal is to realize the self-adaptation of external interference, self-maintenance of performance degradation, and self-adjustment of latent faults. With respect to braking system maintenance technology, the operation and maintenance of the braking system mainly involve condition monitoring and fault diagnosis, and few studies exist on fault prognosis and condition assessment. Making full use of the service status information of the braking system and strengthening the research on the service behavior and evolution law of the braking system under the coupled effect of multi-source factors are the development trend of the intelligent maintenance technology of the braking system. Further research should be conducted on service performance consistency analysis and evaluation, sensor layout optimization, and remaining useful life prediction methods of the braking system. 6 figs, 90 refs. © 2021, Editorial Department of Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering. All right reserved.