Calculation of Loads on Carrying Structures of Articulated Circular-Tube Wagons Equipped with New Draft Gear Concepts

This article deals with the dynamic load and strength of the carrying structures of articulated circular-tube wagons. The study was conducted on the carrying structures of wagons equipped with new draft gear concepts. The accelerations on the carrying structures of wagons were determined using mathematical modeling. The results of modeling show that implementation of the draft gear concept can decrease the dynamic load of wagons by about 10% in comparison with that of a typical SA-3 coupler. Using the created computational models, the service life of the structure of the proposed articulated wagons was also determined. This research will encourage engineers to design modern structures of railway vehicles of higher operational efficiency.