Improvements in passenger car body for higher stability of train ferry

Abstract

The authors suggest that the strength of passenger car bodies under train ferry transportation can be provided by mounting fastening elements of chain binders on the body bolster beams. The principle of such an element is based on the hydraulic damper operation Therefore, the authors developed a mathematical model which considered displacements of a train ferry loaded with passenger cars under rolling motion. The model was solved in Mathcad software. The mathematic modeling was conducted in order to determine the dynamic loading on a passenger car body under sea transportation. The study established that the improvements mentioned made it possible to reduce the dynamic loading on the body under sea transportation by 30% in comparison with that of a typical fastening scheme. The strength of an improved passenger car body was calculated. The maximum equivalent stresses in the body structure accounted for about 120 MPa, i.e., they did not exceed the admissible values. Besides, the study presents the computer modelling of dynamic loads of the carrying structure of a passenger car body under train ferry transportation. Numerical values of the accelerations and their distribution fields relative to the carrying structure of a car were determined. The adequacy of the designed models was checked with an F-test. The research and proposed engineering solutions can ensure the adequate strength of passenger car bodies under their transportation by train ferries, and also conduct efficient international rail/ferry transportation.