STRESSED STATE OF FREIGHT WAGONS UNDER SHOCK LOADING

The study focuses on the load-bearing capacity of freight railway wagons used in the metallurgical and mining industries for transporting heavy metal scraps and overburden rocks. These materials are loaded by dropping them onto the unprotected floor of the wagon. The goal is to extend the wagons' service life and reduce material consumption. This problem is addressed by refining calculation methods for dynamic impact loads, considering the structural properties of the wagons. The design must meet strength parameters under extreme operating conditions while minimizing material use. An analytical method was developed to determine the static equivalent of dynamic loads caused by impacts from heavy metal scraps or massive rock fragments hitting the wagon floor. A proposed calculation scheme considers the elasticity of the wagon floor and its inertia, enabling a more accurate account of reduced dynamic loads due to the elastic properties of the wagon’s suspension system and floor. Formulas were derived for calculating equivalent stresses when loads are applied at any point on the wagon floor. The results suggest that, under specific operational constraints, the floor sections of the wagons can be made from 28 mm thick sheet steel instead of 36 mm, reducing the wagon body weight by 15—20 %.