Ukrainian rolling stock renewal oriented at integration into the European railway networks
Authors:   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Mokrii T.F. , Sobolevska M.B. ,   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Kovtun H.M. ,   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Lapina L.G. ,   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Horobets D.V. ,   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Pasichnyk S.S. ,   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Maliy V.V. ,   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine
Published: November 2024

The strategic aim of further development of the Ukrainian railways is rolling stock and infrastructure renewal to meet the demands of the Ukrainian economy, including a rapid integration into the European transport service. The paper presents the results of recent studies conducted at the Department of Statistical Dynamics and Multidimensional Mechanical System Dynamics, the Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, with the aim to solve important problems in the development of the Ukrainian railway transport. The studies were aimed at developing scientifically substantiated decisions on Ukrainian rolling stock renewal oriented at integration into the European railway networks. To do this, a cycle of theoretical and experimental studies was conducted at the department. Consideration was given to the problem of wheel–rail contact pair improvement by identifying a wheel profile that would offer an acceptable car ride performance and acceptable conditions of car–rail interaction both on the Ukrainian and the European railways and reduce vehicle and rail wear. The car ride performance of an articulated passenger train was simulated mathematically for its motion at different speeds along a track of arbitrary alignment and profile, and the effect of different car and track parameters on the ride performance was estimated. Energy-absorbing devices were developed to increase the passive safety of a speedy locomotive-hauled passenger train and a multiple-unit train in emergency collisions with obstacles according to the Ukrainian Standard DSTU EN 15227. Service loads on the load-bearing components of swap-body freight cars were estimated, and recommendations were developed on fasteners that would provide safe transportation of various freights in swap-body cars. Based on the results of the studies, a number of design solutions were proposed for Ukrainian railway vehicle components. Their implementation will offer a sizeable economic benefit, increase the train speed and safety, improve the vehicle–track interaction, and facilitate the formation of an up-to-date home railway complex and its integration into the European railway networks.