2017 Qing Wu
Post Graduate Thesis Award 2017
THESIS: OPTIMISATIONS OF DRAFT GEAR DESIGNS FOR HEAVY HAUL TRAINS
2017 Post Graduate Thesis Award
Winner
Dr. Qing Wu
Doctor of Philosophy
Place of Study: Central Queensland University
Dr Wu’s thesis was concerned with optimising the mechanical designs of railway vehicles and applied to heavy haul draft gears with three objectives: minimal fatigue damage for coupler systems; minimal coupler forces; and, minimal longitudinal vehicle accelerations.
Six types of draft gears were modelled and validated using experimental data along with optimisation algorithms using supercomputers. Special attention was given to the two most widely used draft gears. His thesis demonstrated that draft gear designs can be further and appreciably improved for heavy haul trains while retaining compliance with existing standards.
Dr. Qing Wu accepting the Post Graduate Thesis Award from Megan Wood, QLD Chapter Chair of the RTSA in Queensland, 2017.