Priyadarshini College of Engineering , Nagpur.

Department Of Civil Engineering

Subject – Transportation Engineering

Guided By – Dr . Prashant Dhorabe Sir

PPT Presented by,

116 – Aachal Chakre
117 – Sai Krishna Ravipati
118 – Shobit Shahare
Topic -Tractive Resistance

Content –
a. What is Tractive Resistance
b. Categories of Tractive Resistance.
 Tractive Resistance –

There are number of forces which resist the movement and speed of a train. So the
tractive force employed by the locomotive, should be adequate. Enough to overcome the
resistance offered by the locomotive.
It is classified into four Categories,
• Train Resistance
• Resistance due to track profile
• Resistance due to starting & accelerating
• Wind Resistance
1. Train Resistance
Train resistance, the force required to move a train, is the sum of the rolling resistance on
tangent level track, grade resistance and curve resistance of the locomotives.

1. Resistance Independent on speed

Rt1 = 0.0016W
2. Resistance dependent on speed
Rt2 = 0.00008 V.W
3. Atmosphere Resistances
Rt3 0.00000016 W.V²
Where, W = weight of train in tones
V = speed of train in Kmph
RtT = Rt1 + Rt2 + Rt3
2. Resistance due to track profile

1) Resistance due to Gradient

When a train moves on a rising gradient, it requires extra effort
in order to move against gravity as shown in Fig.
 Assuming that a wheel of weight W is moving on a rising gradient
OA, the following forces act on the wheel.
 (a) Weight of the wheel (W), which acts downward
 (b) Normal pressure N on the rail, which acts perpendicular to OA
 (c) Resistance due to rising gradient (R4), which acts parallel to OA
Rg = Wtanθ
where, θ angle of inclination
2) Resistance due to Curvature
 When a train negotiates a horizontal curve, extra effort is
required to overcome the resistance offered by the curvature of
the track.

Certain characteristics of curve resistance have been observed, are

 Curve resistance increases with the speed of the train.
 Though curve resistance depends on the weight of the train,
the length of the train has no appreciable effect on it.
 Curve resistance is less with new rails compared to that with
old rails.
Rc = 0.0004 WD - For Board Gauge
Rc = 0.0003 WD - M.G
Rc = 0.0002 WD – N.G
c = Degree of Curvature
3.Resistance due to starting & Accelerating

Train faces these resistance at station when they start and

accelerate.
a) Resistance due to starting
Rs = Resistance due to locomotive + Resistance due to caches
Rs = 0.15 W1 + 0.005 W2

b) Resistance due to accelerating

Ra = 0.28 w.a
where, a = acceleration in Kmph per sec

7 Annual Review 6/5/22

 4. Wind Resistance

When a vehicle moves with speed, a certain resistance

develops, as the vehicle has to move forward against the
wind. Wind resistance consists of side resistance, head
resistance, and tail resistance, but its exact magnitude
depends upon the size and shape of the vehicle, its speed,
and wind direction as well as velocity. Wind resistance
depends upon the exposed area of the vehicle and the
velocity and direction of the wind.

Rw = 0.000017 a.V²
Where, a = Expose area of the train
V = Speed of wind in Kmph
Total Resistance = RtT + Rg + Rc + Rs + Ra + Rw
Thank You…..