Determination of loading of a hopper car with an improved design of the spine beam

Abstract

The substantiation of use of a closed structure of the spine beam of a hopper car filled with a filler possessing viscoelastic properties is carried out. The dynamic loading of the load-bearing structure of a hopper car is determined taking into account the proposed solutions. It is established that the value of acceleration of the improved load-bearing structure of a hopper car during shunting collision is 3.7% lower than that obtained for the load-bearing structure without a filler. The main indicators of strength of the load-bearing structure of a hopper car were determined by the finite element method, which was implemented in the SolidWorks Simulation software package. The maximum equivalent stresses in this case were recorded in the area of interaction of the spine beam with the pivot one. The obtained value of the maximum equivalent stresses is 6% lower than that obtained for the structure without a filler. Modal analysis of the load-bearing structure of a hopper car was performed. The conducted research will help to ensure the strength of the load-bearing structures of hopper cars in operation, reduce maintenance costs, as well as create recommendations for the design of their modern structures.