Assessment of the wear of wheels of freight cars under the existing standards for releasing three-piece bogies with an axle load of 23,5 tf from repair

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of the dimensions and tolerances of three-piece bogies of freight cars with a maximum static axle load of 23,5 tf when they are released from scheduled repair on the wheel flange wear in operation. Methods: For this purpose, drawing on a review and analysis of the literature in the field of wheel-rail system wear and the current requirements of guidelines for the repair of freight cars and their parts, design cases were formed to simulate a railway crew movement along a track of various designs with operating speeds, and the processes of wheel flange wear were studied using simulation computer modeling in the environment of the “Universal Mechanism” software package. Results: The parameters of freight car bogies which have the greatest impact on wheel wear have been determined. The quantitative values of the indicators of wheel wear for various cases of crew movement have been determined. The ways of reducing the wear of car wheels in operation by changing the dimensions and tolerances of bogies when they are released from scheduled types of repair are shown. Practical importance: The obtained results of the work commissioned by JSC “First Freight Company”are currently used to formulate requirements for the dimensions and tolerances of bogies when they are released from repair in order to establish the optimal parameters that would help to reduce the wheel flange wear in operation. In addition, they can be used in the developing new designs of freight car bogies.