Improvement of methodical tools of the seasonal transportation irregularity assessment

Seasonal irregularity of transportation is one of the important production and economic issues for the transportation industry. This issue negatively affects operation of the railway transport as higher irregularity of transportation means limitation of the overall volume that can be realized within a year, which results in reduction of effectiveness of the industry resources use. When assessing the seasonal irregularity of transportation by means of the method, significant error takes place due to different number of days in the months. As one of the solutions of the problem, the authors propose the improved methodical tools for assessment of the seasonal irregularity of freight transportation.

First, the average daily values of the relevant volumetric indicator are used rather than the general ones; second, the load on infrastructure is determined by both the quantity of transported tons and the distance of transportation. Therefore the seasonal irregularity is determined by the loading, as well as by the freight turnover.

Improved tools of assessment of the seasonal irregularity of freight transportation presented in the article allow significantly increasing its accuracy, which will promote quality improvement of planning and analysis of the railways operation and development.

Integrative management of infrastructure and traction equipment at the railway area

Railway transport is in condition of preparation for fulfillment of the forecast increase of transportation. The level of effectiveness and quality of the railways operation is assessed by the period of delivery to the point of destination of required volume of transported freight, which growth increases intensity of infrastructure wear and tear, which requires breaks in trains movement for providing “gaps” for the track repair operations and inevitably results in the delivery time increase.

The use of the best speed path of trains is an important component of ensuring energy effectiveness. Transition to the ground process of trains’ movement control allows JSC “RZD” to arrange rhythmic movement of the car traffic movement providing “gaps” in the single opening for the entire ground. Conducted SWOT-analysis determined the risks and potential results of use of the single infrastructure of the railway area in terms of possible additional expenses in the future. Control mechanism of operation costs was proposed, which allows analyzing actual direct expenses and comparing deviations with regard to the set values. Overall algorithm of the model of integrative control of infrastructure and traction resources was formalized, which is illustrated by the example of participants of transportation process at the railway area. The basis of their interaction is the results of integral assessment that generalized various quantity of indicators and assessment factors of transportation process.

Mathematical support of procedures of establishing the cost price is implemented in the Intellectual system of control and handling of the locomotive fleet at the area of the railway production infrastructure. Obtained results are integrated in the Automated control system of operation of the single center of infrastructure control and are set for transformation , effective use of the industrial companies potential.

Key trends of the geo-economic condition having direct relation to the transportation and logistic operation in Russia determine necessity of effective management of traction resources by means of arrangement of the uniform process of transportation operation of JSC “RZD”, which results in the best use of transportation infrastructure, balanced increase of the volumes of loading and attraction of investments to the railways.

Clearance of obstructions of high passenger platforms

The article examines the issues of justification of the norms of clearance of obstructions of high passenger platforms of the railways 1520 mm wide. The authors conducted analysis of the valid regulatory documents establishing the clearance requirements to passenger platforms and developed the double-criteria method of assessment of the relevance of these requirements. Examinations were conducted by the scientists of JSC “VNIIZhT” together with the experts of Moscow directorate of infrastructure in order to make correct selection of the clearance of obstructions when constructing new high passenger platforms. Experts

of JSC “VNIIZhT” developed explanation of the relevance of the clearance norms stated in GOST 9238–2013 and in the Standard code in the Russian Federation approved by the order of the Ministry of Transportation dated 21.12.2010 no. 286, as well as performed inspection of compliance of high passenger platforms recently constructed or being constructed now with the requirements of these regulatory documents.

Analysis of actual clearance to obstructions of the used platforms by means of the double-criteria method of justification of the clearance of high passenger platforms allowed assessing compliance of the actual clearance to obstructions of the platforms with the passenger comfort requirements, as well as with GOST 9238–2013. Examinations confirmed that actual clearance to obstructions with regard to the tolerances in general comply with the standard. Requirements of GOST 9238–2013, which shall be followed for selection of the clearance to obstructions of high

passenger platforms, are the primary requirements of the valid regulatory documents specifying the norms of the platform clearance to obstructions.

Methodical issues of determination of the average heat transfer coeffi cient

of the passenger car body

The article examines methodical issues of selection of heat insulation materials, their properties affecting energy efficiency, as well as methodical issues of experimental determination of heat insulation properties of the car body. This issue has become recently relevant due to the increased requirements to saving of the fuel and energy resources and to improvement of the passenger travel comfort. Domestic and international regulatory documents are analyzed from this perspective.

Contemporary materials used for heat insulation of the car body, methods of determination of the average heat transfer coefficient and requirements to such materials are examined. Review of the test results of the most widely spread passenger cars; the issue is arisen regarding necessity of putting the obtained results of experimental research in compliance with the actual ope rating conditions with regard to the changes of temperature, air humidity and car movement speed. The article examines in details disadvantages of the currently used standardized method of determination of the average heat transfer coefficient. The issues affecting accuracy of determination of this parameter are underlined, which occur in the experimental research and in processing of the obtained results. Practical use of obtained results for designing of new rolling stock is examined.

Ultimately, the authors conclude that the valid domestic standardized method of determination of the average heat transfer coefficient does not take into account the number of important conditions. Examination of effect of these conditions on the results of experimental research allows the authors to make conclusion regarding necessity of review of methodical and regulatory and technical documentation for the test methods.

Preliminary assessment of economic effect of transportation in the innovation cars with axial load of 27 tons at the area of the Eastern ground

The article presents preliminary results of the comprehensive assessment of the economic effect for the infrastructure owner from transportation by trains composed with the innovation freight cars with axial load of 27 tons at the specific areas (grounds). Comprehensive economic assessment for the infrastructure owner consists in taking into account changes of expenses for improvement of technical properties of the new car, as well as the expenses for changes of the operation properties of the car handling areas, in particular:

• one-time expenses for putting infrastructure of the areas of cars handling with the axial load from 25 to 27 tons in compliance with the new technical requirements;

• financial results due to increase of carrying-capacity by means of increase of the weight at the permanent train length;

• change of the current and one-time expenses for train traction composed of the innovation cars of increased carrying-capacity when changing the locomotive series and the number of section-kilometers per the unit of transportation operations.

Calculations performed for the routes Chegdomyn – Vaninoand Chelutay – Nakhodka indicated that effect of transportation in the innovation cars can be both positive and negative for the infrastructure owner depending on the operation and economic properties of the handling area (volume of transported freight in the examined cars, maintenance process of the locomotive runs, etc.).

Taking into account the one-time costs for putting the superstructure in compliance with the technical requirements, the financial results of JSC “RZD” is getting worse at the examined routes. Obtained results have preliminary nature as more detailed accoun ting of expenses is required for putting infrastructure of the train handling areas composed from the cars of axial load 27 tons in compliance with the technical requirements.

Experimental determination of longitudinal forces in front of braking train

The number of regularities detected in the experiments described by the author confirms that, despite of the differences in operating conditions between the middle of the 20th century and the present days, the methods of research and assessment of obtained results are still relevant.

Features of the superstructure and track operation at the initial stage of introduction of the welded rails and continuously welded rail strings on the railways of the USSR are examined. It is demonstrated that axial displacement forces are occurred during the train movement, which are one of the most dangerous processes taking place in the track during the rolling stock movement. Axial displacement forces are manifested in the axial displacement of rails on the sleepers or displacement of rails with sleepers on the ballast. Knowledge of axial forces resulted from displacement of one rail line or the entire track is required for competent planning of installation and operation of the jointed rail track and continuously welded rail track, especially in the conditions of the Urals and Siberia. Methods and experimental results are provided for determination of additional axial forces acting in the track at the spike fastening and the individual intermediate fastening in front of braking train at the experimental sections of the continuously welded rail track in severe climatic conditions of the West-Siberian railway, where the annual fluctuations of therail temperature amount to 110°C.

The following conclusions are made based on the analysis of the experiment results and experience of operation of the continuously welded rail strings:

• no additional axial forces in front of braking train were detected in the continuously welded rail strings of the thermalstressed type without any release of thermal stresses on the independent fixation;
• experiment confirmed possibility of installation and normal operation of continuously welded rail track on the entire network of railways of the Ministry of Transportation of the USSR;
• recent wide introduction of trains of 7,100 t, combined trains of 12,600 and 14,200 tons require special attention to parameters of interaction of track and trains.

Use of rating assessment of fi nancial and economic operation effectiveness

of the JSC “RZD” branches

Rating is one of the methods of economic analysis used for comparative  ssessment of effectiveness of production and economic operation of the organizational  structures in different branches of economy. Rating assessment of railways is used in JSC “RZD” since 2018 for objective assessment of economic and financial sustainability and effectiveness of manage ment of structural divisions (branches). Methods of rating assess ment adapted for structural divisions of JSC “RZD” with regard to the specificity of their operation are examined in the work.

Main objectives of establishing the rating assessment system of financial and economic operation of the JSC “RZD” branches are examined, detailed rating classification is presented.

Basic principles are developed for establishing the rating assess ment system of  operation effectiveness of the deputies of the JSC “RZD” branches heads in terms of financial and economic operation, as well as classification of indicators of financial and economic operation of the JSC “RZD” branches by types of operation with definition of their vector orientation. The following conclusions are made:

1. Presented rating assessment is an indicator of the quality of financial and economic operation management of the JSC “RZD” branches.

2. Use of rating assessment for results analysis is relevant for motivation of the management in charge for economic operations.

3. Further development of the rating assessment system consists in establishing the events classifier and optimization of the current expenses.

Damping of the track horizontal, transversal vibrations

Knowledge of the oscillation process nature in horizontal plane across the track allows selecting the way of damping for reducing decrease of strength properties of polymer gaskets, rails, sleepers and earthworks under effect of horizontal vibrodynamic loads occurring during the rolling stock movement. Maximum horizontal deformation of polymer gaskets across the track does not exceed 10% therefore stress and deformation of polymer material can be done using the Hooke’s law.

This is the first systematization of formulae for calculation of polymer gaskets, as well as the first resolution of the task when not pure shear takes place under effect of tangential stresses with simultaneous effect of vertical load. Damping coefficient of polyurethane gaskets is the same as for rubber gaskets; however, their service life is 2.5 times longer.

Based on the presented physical mesomechanics it is demonstrated regarding the surface layer of two metal bodies contact under significant load that the surface mesolayer has damping properties, and vibrating oscillations occurring in the truck wheels when rolling stock moves on the rails will be reflected from the contact pad. The process of wheel and rail sliding in transversal direction is accompanied with increase of the total rolling friction and noise, elevated wear and tear of rails and wheel rims. In order to reduce transversal deformations and amplitude of the rails and sleepers torsion oscillations during rolling movement it is proposed to change the shape of polyurethane gaskets. Gaskets with variable thickness will more effectively reflect the shear transversal oscillating waves and reduce transversal forces.