The generalized indices of productive efficiency become more and more important for transport systems. Those indices consider the set of the engaged resources and orientate the analysis followed by assessment to determination of the system level of productive process. The article describes some new approaches to the solution of such a problem at the example of railway stations. The suggested index is based on continuity principle which is closely linked to finite technical and economical results of activities of one mode transport systems. The index has also its own organizational economic sense, and that is important to assess industrial units and analyze their achievements.

New issue Bulletin

The authors substantiate the approaches towards assessment of stability and reliability of the processes of car repairs, the principles of industrial engineering in car repairs shed, and relevant mathematical and technological models. They show modes of solution of optimization problems by linear programming method, including computation of production plans, equipment operation, distribution of scheduled maintenance works, spare parts supply.

The author describes theoretical fundamentals, used to proceed with mathematical treatment of the results of measurements of parameters of technical conditions of the rail track. The calculations use different variants of assessment. The first one considers comparable data of two cycles of control. The second one proceeds with superposed, monitoring-based analysis of the indices received out of several measuring cycles with predetermined time intervals and dynamics (mobility) of the points of geodesic network.

In some experts’ opinion evaluation of stress fields within under rail subgrade is accomplished with the help of formulae of mostly empiric character. This approach limits possibilities of exploring the processes of pressure wave propagation and of their interaction with soils at the moment of freight train motion along the rails. The article suggests a theoretical description of the studied dependencies and equations for numerical solution of the problems related to the processes within the stress fields of rail subgrade.

The author analyzes features of queue proceeding algorithms with downward delay used in IP-networks to ensure reliable services, describes comparative analysis of main specifications of CBWFQ algorithm conducted with the help of simulation models. The article demonstrates such computing indices there-of as mean queueing time of a packet, jitter effect, packet loss under different values of entry parameters. The conclusion is that S. J. Golestani method is efficient when a network is in normal mode, while in extraordinary mode (increased load) it is necessary to use a method of random selection of the classes of packets with CBWTQ algorithm.

The study is devoted to the impact of lateral wear and tear of the rail head on the resistance of a wheel against derailment. Particularly, are considered conditions of limit equilibrium of a wheel pair at different moments of its situation on the rails; method of determining of wheel stability index at different types of tracks and at different values of lateral deterioration of a rail head. The author puts forward a mathematical interpretation of interaction of the forces of wheels and rails and substantiates a conclusion that the evaluation of a stability of a wheel vehicle has a determinable dependence on angular load on rail heads.

The article reviews the methods, used in Russia to determine saturation flow while computing regime of traffic lights regulation for city motor roads. The authors have suggested a new tool of mathematical assessment of the desired quantity in order to achieve better quality of road signal regulation. The proposed method of determination of saturation flow as compared to classical and foreign methods, allows to take into account a larger number of parameters and to achieve a more exact result.

The researchers have also tested the innovation model by using it at real street intersection and organized implementation of the study results in the framework of cooperation with municipal administration of the city of Belgorod. The study has shown that the optimum regime of traffic lights operation reduces car delays by 15–25%.

The article describes possibilities to use instruments of probabilistic neural networks to classify technical conditions of the elements of frictionless bearings of rail rolling stock, analyzing vibration acoustics information, collected with the help of modern troubleshooting units. The authors show the features of operation and design of artificial neural network that results in identification of problems at 99,6% cases.

Light Rail Project.

Intense development of power semiconductor units allows designing powerful arcless disconnection devices which could make a single set along with conversion units of traction substations. The authors suggest a promising design of conversion and distribution 3,3 kV unit for DC power traction substations, that has some technical and economic advantages. The circuit is realized with the help of controlled 12 pulse rectifier, built without cathode groups of cells in the second bridges of rectifiers. Three-phase switches of feeders are assembled on thyristors, and the cathodes there-of are electrically interconnected and create the terminals of direct current. The main elements of the unit are described and the algorithm of its operation is studied. Using the MATLAB software, the authors have created mathematical model of traction substation and simulated disconnection of a short-circuit at one of the feeders of overhead catenary, while considering a traction load at the other feeder. To make better demonstration of the model, the results of simulation are shown as an oscilloscope pattern, where the process of disconnection is divided into several stages.

Electrical power scheme of rectifier unit of actuation based on thyristors has been unchangeable for more than 45 years. Analysis of electric locomotives’ operation under the regenerative braking has shown that the use of thyristors in the arms of rectifier units of actuation, as well as the adopted methods of control are one of the causes of reduction of capacity factor of locomotives, using recuperative braking (till not more than 0,65 during operation). The article suggests changing of power circuit of rectifier unit of actuation, using new circuitry and control technique, which will allow to raise power factor of AC electric locomotive at recuperative braking by 5%.

Service braking of a motor car supposes that tire scrubbing will be minimized or zero limited. But this process causes some material losses for technics that some prefer not to speak about. The mathematical model elaborated by the authors, numerical experiment and full-scale testing are the basis for wording of instructions for drivers how to brake on different types of pavement and road surfaces. The values determined within calculated model might reduce wear and tear of tires, braking disks, other material damages.

Growing attention to the development of highspeed railways has accentuated some technical problems. Particularly one can witness changing attitude towards some special track constructions which are sections of variable stiffness. The article describes the results of experiments conducted by the department of track and track facilities of Moscow State University of Railway Engineering in the zone of interfacing of subgrade and artificial structures. The authors proceed with simulation of high-speed train motion at the interface sections, studying dynamic features and operation conditions. They suggest measures of amelioration of structures, taking into account the reducing of stiffness of the track on bridge abutments and raising of the stiffness at the approaches to other structures, in order to reduce the loading of the subgrade and track.

Main streams of growth of efficiency of transportation services consist in implementation of the concept of transition from physical carriage (transportation) to transport logistics services. The authors present arguments in favor of overcoming of contradictions, related to existing ideas on criteria of quality and assortment (types) of activities from the point of view of the economics and business. Using the examples of Krasnodar region and Moscow they demonstrate rational and less expensive variants of commercial cooperation between consignors and consignees of the goods. They also put forward some recommendations how to reduce transportation costs per unit of final product taking into consideration optimization of transport and logistics processes.

The construction of terminal logistics centers constitutes one of the strategic goals of transport development. The choice of lots of land for those centers requires criteria that will be well adapted to market conditions, including dominant economic factors, related to property relations, cadastral price and other factors. The authors suggest the approaches of solution of such problems, including algorithms of comparative analysis of the variants of location of the transport logistics centers, assessment criteria series, weighted criteria values, the resulted effects.

The problem of defining of the productivity of excavator and truck complexes is especially important for open-cast mines. Different technologies are used for mining, depending on capacity and depth of occurrence, volumes of extraction of the rocks. Frequently the less expensive costs are ensured by the variants of extraction and loading of the minerals by excavators of cycle action and by further carriage by dumptrucks from the stripping front to the storehouse or to the mine dump. The studied scientific task is by its nature rather a transport problem as it is solved via optimization of transportation processes. The authors substantiate a method of calculation of productivity of excavator and truck complex containing dump-trucks of small capacity (less than 30 tons) and excavators with small capacity bucket (less than 2 cubic meters). The nomogram of productivity of excavator and truck complex, achieved on the basis of well-known study methods and calculation techniques, can be applied first of all at the stage of construction of open-cast mines. The use of the suggested instruments of the control of overburden transportation efficiency will help to adjust the plans of mining at Miheevsky mine and to reduce prime cost of copper ore extraction.

The author analyzes main problems, occurring during pre-project studies on transport systems of large industrial regions, displays weakest points in the infrastructure of transport centers, analyzes variants of freight traffic organization; studies possibilities to enlarge capacity and operation abilities of stations and stages, potential of sorting and preparation of empty cars in the zones of mass loading. Special attention is drawn to comprehensive development of infrastructure of main and industrial transport in large nodal points.

The described system of decision-making support is intended for navigators and takes into account International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea as well as the recommendations of Good Practice Guidance. The researcher has established a list of questions and answers for a communication of a control system with the users, and the variants of conclusions that a navigator finally receives. The article describes the semantic network and productive rules of the developed system for privileged vessels, demonstrates a decision making tree, and the results of a testing of system features of the suggested model.

Public transport supposes the use of a wide range of information technologies, but the existing information systems of enterprises do not prove to take into account the features of this kind of transport. Providing for total presence of electronic networks and typical computer guided management patterns, the author formulates approaches to structuring and step-by-step development of the models of relevant information systems, and suggests utility-orientated indices of those models. He describes the methods for development of information system intended for managers of passenger traffic enterprise, using mathematical models which enclose comprehensiv e and multidimensional understanding of economic efficiency. The choice of variants is determined by different business tasks and the goals of growing profitability and quality of passenger services.

Maintenance of positive dynamics during formation of wagon flows and traffic control is one of permanent tasks of a railway network. The author describes analysis of individual freight cars allocation by the stations of freight operations. This analysis serves to improve the existing system of planning. The results allow not only to state the limitations of technological capacity of freight stations, but to suggest rational management decisions. They are intended to enhance the transit capacity of car flow, scheduling of loading, multi-purpose methods of operation of the trains along the route.

The authors consider methods to find optimal scheme of routing for single wagon load trains for different railway sections. Three variants of allocation of a pair of such trains and consequences of stoppage of the wagons at the stations of loading and unloading are considered. Those variants are studied from the point of view of the advantages for traffic control. The comparison of computed data gives opportunity to make certain conclusions on the selection of a scheme that gives better results and less car stoppage.

Express Information.

The article is devoted to the problems of simulation of business processes of a communication unit at the example of Murom regional communication center of JSC Russian Railways. The simulated model of a phone subscriber connection allows analyzing of the costs and time losses of the staff, as well as optimizing the roles and composition of the participants. The described variant is universal and can be used in any regional communication center. It is rather comfortable to monitor business operations in automatic mode and might be integrated into more global model patterns of enterprise management.

The studied problems concern transport services to Moscow residents, outlook for Moscow metro dev elopment, rail infrastructure, commuter trains and transfer stations. The special attention is paid to multimode passenger traffic that comprehensively uses different modes of transport to deliver residents to destination points. The author suggests criteria of assessment to substantiate variable proposals as well as gives examples of efficiency evaluation for complex technical transportation systems that are widely operated in capital area.

The studies on the impacts of motor cars on the environment are one of the permanent tasks of transport sciences. There is an on-going process of changing and toughening of the requirements for the level of air pollution by harmful substances of diesel and petrol engines. Ecological standards concerning motor fuel are becoming higher. But even taking into consideration all positive changes, the indices of exhaust fume are still critical. The author shows the interdependence between ecological and engineering factors, argues in favor of promising directions of engineering research that are deemed to make closer the new ecological standards and the new capacities of road vehicles.

The article assesses developments of a method of achieving of a deepened profiling of an environment, which is strongly differentiated by speed parameters and built by sub horizontal layers, with the help of geo radar profiling and geo radar scanning. The authors have elaborated an iterative algorithm of selection and refinement of hodograph curve of reflected and main waves, of determination of the features of layers. The authors show the results of experimental testing of the method, and suggest some conclusions concerning possible use of the method for monitoring of transport structures.

The article is devoted to the complex system of fire and aviation safety at the civil aviation ground structures and at the planes. The authors analyze the range of fire extinction tools and devices in the airports as well as organization of preventive and salvage operations during emergency situations. The authors underline the role of fire prevention and salvation teams, of aviation teams training in order to develop skills to prevent the fire, to conduct correct operations on board of the plane if emergency occurs.

The main causes of occupational traumatism in JSC Russian Railways are studied from the aspect of the impact of human factor on the safety of organization of industrial processes. The necessity to improve the quality of the staff advanced learning is revealed and grounded. The authors have determined optimal volume of tests which allow the required level of veracity of assessment and decisions. Theoretical conclusions were approved through expert studies. The proposed techniques minimize probability of partial approach from behalf of the managers.

The problems of research and educational centers are considered by the authors from the aspect of strategic development of higher education. Using the example of cooperation of Moscow University of Railway Engineering and JSC Russian Railways, the authors study possibilities of extending of R&D on the basis of modernized forms of organization and university traditions. The proposed approach envisages improvement of training of research and academic staff, of students’ stages, of all the system of training of future professionals of railways.

The authors review the trends of scientific assessment of personnel and analyze their impact on modern goals of holding structures. They describe the model of corporate competencies approved in JSC Russian Railways and the techniques of their evaluation in assessment centers.

It is a very long article that appeared in two issues of the journal «Railway business» in 1900 and was signed by «engineer Sh.». It can seem strange, but it still sounds quite modern. The facts and assessments, contained in the article, could easily be transposed into the context of modern railway practices, psychology of labor relations, features of industrial bureaucracy and social problems of labor process. Publication is prepared on the basis of the collection of the library of Moscow State University of Railway Engineering.

"Russian Knight" Igor Sikorsky.

Attending the guidelines for development of mathematical education which are now prepared, it is important to review the approaches to mathematical training from the very beginnings of technical schools, to remind the main trends of curriculum development. The article is devoted mostly to the progressive leaders of higher technical schools and their views regarding mathematical training in the period of 19th and early 20th century.

The reviewed book is devoted to innovation technology in the sphere of traffic control, of railway stations and hubs practices in the period of structural changes in Russian railways. The authors analyze the advantages of train operations, prospective model of rail services market, optimization of operation of rolling stock and locomotives of railways, dispatching control and logistic follow-up of goods carriage. The monograph is intended for the specialists of rail traffic, dispatching, operation, as well as for researchers, professors of higher schools and Ph.D. students.

Selected abstracts of Ph.D. theses.