• Energy Research

The paper presents the research results of the stability and loading of the two-axle mine cars and rail tracks with various design for calculation schemes construction of transport systems of underground rail haulage. The dependences of changes in loading, stability and operation safety of rolling stocks from the parameters of irregularities, curvature radii of the rail track and the movement speed of rolling stocks at various technical solutions of the transport system, have been studied. The research results of the interaction between the two-axle mine cars and rail track with the gauge of 750 mm for underground rail haulage are presented. The parameters have been determined of the rail track irregularities in the horizontal and vertical planes, which cause the highest values of vertical and horizontal loads, acting on the rail track and the two-axle rolling stock. The recommendations are proposed for improving the study of the rail vehicles and regulatory documents development for the construction and operation of the track structure. The results can be applied for the underground rail haulage when creating the new vehicles for mines.

Abstract The paper studies the influence of the friction coefficient value between the rail heads and wheel flanges on the side wear between their surfaces, depending on the dynamic processes between the vehicles and the rail track of an arbitrary configuration. Research is aimed at reducing the rate of the side parts mutual wear of the rail heads and the wheel flanges of the vehicle running gears. It has been determined that a decrease in the friction coefficient in the range from 0.25 to 0.05 leads to a decrease in the indicators of side surfaces wear of the wheel flanges and rail heads by 3.5-4.5 times and an increase in the stability margin coefficient against wheel derailment of the moving vehicle running gear by 1.3-1.5 times. It has been revealed that the dynamic qualities of moving vehicles when using a continuous welded track and elongated rails, compared with the presence of butt joints on the track, decrease by 15-56%, and the stability and traffic safety indicators improve by 19-26%. The research results are provided for use in the underground, open-cut and rail transport to increase the operational life and traffic safety in transport.

The article considers the actual task of improving mobile units of underground rail transport, taking into account the peculiarities of work in straight and curvilinear sections of the path of especially small curvature radius of 8–50 m, with reference to the rail track width of 600; 750 and 900 mm. The purpose of the work is to improve operational performance of rail transport of mining enterprises and improve safety of railway movements. Methods for the study of interaction processes of mobile vehicles and the rail track are presented. The study results of loading, oscillations and movement stability of vehicles with the free and rigid mounting of wheels on the axles of wheelsets are given. The resonance phenomenon due to the proximity of frequencies of forced and natural oscillations of mobile units of underground rail transport has been established. The obtained results can be applied to the development of normative documents regulating tolerances for the maintenance of rail track in the plan, profile and for the broadening of the track, taking into account the vertical, horizontal and longitudinal irregularities of the rail threads. The study results can be used to improve the design of mobile vehicles and rail track.

Topical problem concerning the improvement of intermediate rail fastening of a railway track of railroad transport as well as industrial and underground rail one has been considered taking into account peculiarities of operation in terms of curved sections of a route with small-radius curvature. Objective of the paper is to improve operational parameters of a railway track with extra small curvature radii in terms of railroad gauge adjustment. Operation of the components of intermediate rail fastening, being subject to intense wear and destruction due to the effect of great transverse and horizontal loading within the curved route sections with small-radius curvature, has been and analysed. Innovative engineering solutions to improve intermediate rail fastening have been proposed. Such peculiarity of the device of intermediate rail fastening provides increased durability and working capacity of rail fastening components in terms of considerable transverse loading within the route sections with small-radius curvature. The obtained results may be applied for underground and industrial rail transport as well as for railroad one.