Calculation method of wheelset natural frequency based on transfer matrixes

Vehicle wheelset natural frequency was analyzed by transfer matrixes, according to the characteristic of wheelset structure, vehicle wheel and axle-box were simplified to collective quality and inertia moment, and wheelset axle was simplified to non-uniform Temoshenko beam including collective quality and inertia moment, then wheelset vibration transfer matrix was set up, wheelset natural frequency was calculated by solving wheelset frequency equation using Newton-Raphson method.In wheelset design stage, its effects on wheelset stress condition and the vibration perporties of vehicle system and track system were analyzed.In comparison with FEM, the relative error of wheelset natural frequency is less than 10%, the calculation method can satisfy the need of project design.