THEORY
The objective of the paper was to identify the optimum relation between strength characteristics of railway wheel and rail, considering operating conditions. The wheel–rail couple is considered as a system. A mathematical model of wheel–rail friction wear process has been developed. Mathematical simulation used the non-compositional second-order rotatable design.
The article presents the results of the study on the intensity of wear of wheels and rails and recommendations regarding choice of axle load and rolling stock speed.
The results confirm the need for regular monitoring and improving efficiency of organisation of technological (innovation) activity of railway companies in order to maintain their leading positions in terms of competitiveness.
The objective of this work is to obtain and describe the dependence of the edge stresses in a rail as a function of wear magnitude. The obtained dependence is used to determine the maximum stresses. The technique consists in constructing a spline approximation of a worn rail profile. The proposed approach allows simulating real rail wear (vertical and lateral wearing). The work has applied in MathCAD environment a practical algorithm for calculating the influence of the degree of rail wear on the increase in the maximum bending stresses and on decrease in permissible loads.
A technique has been developed for simulating the profile and calculating the normal contour stresses during rail bending, considering the wear magnitude. It is applied to the movement of a rail wheelset along the rail track in a straight section of the track. The technique also allows considering horizontal lateral force from the wheel flange during movement of various types of rolling stock in curved track sections. Calculations have been carried out and a nonlinear dependence of the growth of maximum compressive and tensile normal stresses on the degree of wear has been obtained. Three characteristic ranges have been identified and recommendations have been given for reducing the destructive load with regard to rail wear.
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
The urban railway systems using state-of-the-art technologies for train traffic, safety, traction and rail infrastructure are becoming increasingly widespread in the world. The Moscow Central Circle railroad is an example illustrating their integration into the urban transportation system of a megacity.
Development and continuous modernization of such railroad systems during their operation generate new innovative approaches, particularly in the field of electric power supply.
Electric traction load on the traction electric power supply system of the Moscow Central Circle railroad has several features explained by prevalence of passenger traffic and frequent changes of operating modes of electric trains. Frequently used regenerative braking determines the statement of the problem of developing a complex of measures to increase the efficiency of traction power supply system measured by the criterion of output capacitance reduction and of energy efficiency indicators’ growth. The use of electric energy storage systems within the traction power supply system can help to solve the
mentioned problem.
The objective of the described research is to assess the efficiency of the implementation of the electric energy storage devices within the system of traction power supply system of the Moscow Central Circle. The research uses the methods of statistical processing of the measurement data and of simulation modelling. Simulation modelling of interaction of electric rolling stock with traction power supply system within the Moscow Central Circle allows to obtain the characteristics of load chart of electric energy storage systems and of bus voltage at sectioning posts, to evaluate the durations of operation cycles in charge and discharge modes, their number and relevant total amount of electric energy per day.
The obtained results allow assessing the technical features of various types of electric energy storage devices regarding operating conditions within traction power supply system of the Moscow Central Circle and to determine the economic efficiency of their implementation.
The task of achieving the increase in the weight and velocity of trains being core objective for most railways is inherently associated with solving problems of improving the dynamic qualities of wagons and locomotives during their interaction with the upper structure of the railway track. The strength and stability of rolling stock against derailment in various climatic zones should be ensured together with minimizing operating costs.
Analysis of the reliability and performance of the wagon–track system can be conducted based on multivariate dynamic calculations of mathematical models and through experimental studies of dynamic vibrations.
Currently, the issues of the influence of changes in the elastic-hysteresis properties of various impact absorber materials under the action of temperature factors on the elements of a multi-mass vibratory system remain insufficiently studied.
The purpose of the research described in the article was to analyze the dynamic processes taking place in a multi-mass wagon–track vibratory system under the influence of changes in stiffness and internal friction coefficients of a damping rail component depending on a type of structural material and ambient temperature.
The research resulted in elaborating model of multi-mass vibratory wagon–track system. Multivariate model calculations were carried out regarding various stiffness and internal friction parameters of damping elements situated under the rail; the parameters being selected from experimentally constructed dynamic hysteresis. The work presents results of calculations of the reaction forces and deviations in the elements of the vibratory system depending on temperature, type of material, thickness and design of damping elements.
The frozen soils’ stress-strain state varies with time due to the internal soil rheological processes. Those processes become active within the thawing period of the active soil layer causing increase in settlement of the engineering structures’ foundations. Hence, creep processes and thawing of frozen soils should be considered when designing the transportation facilities for regions of the Far North and Siberia.
The objective of the research is to develop a procedure for evaluating the variation in time of the stress-strain state of the frozen soil under the post footing of a bridge pier’s foundation considering the frozen soil creep and thawing.
The interaction of the bridge pier post foundations and frozen silt-loam soil is modelled and studied. The research is based on the example of an existing overpass over the M‑56 Lena motor road situated at Amga–Samyrdah stage of Tommot–Yakutsk section of the Berkakit–Tommot–Yakutsk railway line. This overpass has piers with post foundations. The above railway line is in the area of hard frozen soils.
The study focuses on changes in principal normal compressive stresses with the course of time, as well as on the frozen soil movements under the post footing. The time allotted for the above system behavior study is limited to five months. There are two design cases: a) considering the frozen soil thawing up to a depth range of 1,5 to 4 m; b) without considering the frozen soil thawing.
The research has shown that the thawing of the frozen soil up to a comparatively low depth as compared to natural level results in a significant increase (by 2÷2,5 times) in the values of post foundation settlement as compared with the design case without thawing. At the same time, it was found that small values of thawing have a subtle effect on the frozen soil’s stress state under the post footing. Besides, all reviewed design cases (with / without thawing revealed that stress of the frozen soil under the post footing decreases with time (stress relaxation).
The multi-modular transformer watercrafts based on modules with vortex engines might represent a new class of watercrafts significantly expanding the range of achievable parameters in production processes carried out in the World Ocean.
Composed of modules of the same type and capable of functioning autonomously with vortex propulsion devices, they can, firstly, be assembled to sizes and shapes that are not accessible to modern vessels of traditional design, and secondly, if necessary, they will not have limitations in terms of independent operation, so their properties are similar to artificial islands in any given water area of the Global Ocean, while possessing mobility.
The objective of this paper is to assess the prospects for the use of multi-modular transformer watercrafts as carriers of technological systems for scientific and production processes carried out in the World Ocean.
Models of application of multi-modular transformer watercrafts with vortex propulsion are suggested for their autonomous year-round continuous operation in given non-freezing waters.
To assess the effectiveness of the use of the proposed transformer watercrafts, a simulation of their operation was carried out, as well as a direct comparison of their specifications with traditional vessels that support operation of scientific and production complexes in the World Ocean. For comparison, the currently known marine complexes are selected that require long-term continuous operation (fish canning floating base; a floating complex for extraction and production of liquefied natural gas).
The paper shows that, in relation to all the considered processes, the proposed multi-modular transformer watercrafts have at least two advantages. Firstly, they make it possible to realize continuous and long-term (determined by direct wear of the main module) functioning of the complex, and secondly, with autonomous functioning of individual modules, the zone of action of the complex as a whole is an area with a characteristic size of hundreds of miles.
ECONOMICS
Demand for low-tonnage transportation of LNG requires improved logistics. Assessing the value of all parts of the supply chain is an important component of solving the problem of optimizing transportation costs for both consumers and LNG suppliers. In connection with tightening of environmental requirements regarding bunker fuel, the task of optimizing the supply of LNG for water transport by the cost of transportation becomes particularly relevant.
The objective of the study is to develop a universal approach to estimating the cost of transporting low-tonnage LNG for bunkering vessels in the Russian Federation.
The research methodology is focused on the analytical method based on a system-structural approach.
As part of the departmental project of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade «Development of gaspowered fleet for navigation in coastal waters and inland waterways», the authors developed technical and economic models for calculating the unit cost of LNG transportation by road and water. To calculate the unit cost of LNG transportation by rail, the data of TMkarta information and reference system were used. Based on model calculations and data of TMkarta system, regression relations were obtained that allow one to determine the cost of transportation for various options of transport and technological schemes based on a limited set of parameters. An approach has also been proposed for estimating the cost of LNG transshipment. The regression ratios were tested for selected routes. As a result,
conclusions were drawn about the most effective LNG transportation options.
Development of business intelligence is an important area of efficiency growth when solving urgent issues of improving transport management processes. The business intelligence is a source of objective and clear information necessary for management to make decisions. This is particularly pertinent when business intelligence is applied in railway transport for comparative analysis of contribution of regional and local divisions and units to the overall activity of railway infrastructure or operation company. In Russia, in the case of JSC Russian Railways there is a great need for assessment of the efficiency of regional corporate management centers whose responsibility is to coordinate activity within the
boundaries of railways which are branches of the company.
The objective of the article is to present new methodological and practical aspects of designing and development of business intelligence tools for the process of economic assessment of share contribution of each railway (considered as a set of structural units within the regional corporate management center) to the results of the activity of JSC Russian Railways.
The research while developing and justifying the proposed methodological apparatus used tools for system analysis, methods of decomposition and synthesis, methodology of economic and mathematical modelling, fundamentals of information design theory, as well as methods of factor analysis.
As a result, within the framework of improving the business analytics apparatus for complex economic processes as applied to transport management systems, the paper suggests a methodological apparatus for development of multi-stage factor analysis (MFA) based on application of the hierarchical construction principle and the provisions of the root cause analysis (RCA) methodology, comprising integrated mechanisms for visualizing the results of analytical work by shaping chains of information panels, combined into tree structures, according to the principles of building mind maps.
The suggested methodological apparatus approved by the considered case may also be applied to a wide
range of similar problems in other modes of transport, multimode and combined transportation.
ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL
Improving the operational efficiency of transport is one of the main catalysts for raising the quality of life and socio-economic development. The prevailing global trends are aimed at establishing logistic chains from producers to consumers. The cross-border movement of world production within the framework of globalization, the deepening of integration processes between countries highlight the issues of developing a methodology for planning and evaluating international transport corridors from various points of view, and economic, technical, social, environmental and other aspects. The urgent issue is the harmonization of the technical and regulatory framework for the organization of «seamless» transportation, the synchronization of the technological cycles of various modes of transport, including operation of multimodal transport hubs. A large number of studies are dedicated to the modelling and control of traffic flows, new methods of forecasting the transport situation using the results of computer dynamic transport modelling, analysis of existing infrastructure resources and elimination of bottlenecks in the existing railway system (including through the expansion of the railway network and innovative methods of traffic control).
Hence the achievement of target parameters of efficiency of production activity of all participants in railway transportations is possible through qualitative changes in the system of the organization of transportation process, the objective of the research was to study technological aspects of improvement of quality of functioning of the transport system in relation to activity of the Russian railways.
The research applied methods of system analysis of scientific and technical data and technical and economic indicators of complex systems.
The issues of implementation of end-to-end principles of transportation process management are considered, the concept of «technological polygon of transportation process management» is expanded. The analysis and grouping of methods for improving the efficiency of railway transport was carried out with regard to improving the operation quality indicators and refined model of rolling stock management, increasing the efficiency of the use of traction equipment, profiling of railway itineraries in respect of the preferred types of traffic, establishing sections well-provided for safe passage of freight trains and synchronized with the operation ranges of locomotives, organizing freightage in wagons with
increased axle load, removing barriers and restrictions in the power supply sector, etc.
The transition to the «polygon» model of the organization of the technological process, the unification and optimization of the use of available resources, and, as a result, the reduction of risks of losses from transportation, service provision and unplanned use of resources are effective tools to improve the quality of rail operations.
International transport corridors play a leading role in shaping an integrated global transport services market.
In this context, the objective of the paper was to study the current state of North–South international transport corridor (hereinafter referred to as ITC), which connects India, Iran, the Gulf countries through the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia with Russia and the countries of Europe. A brief review of scientific publications on the subject under consideration allows to draw a general conclusion from opinions of various authors: it is necessary not only to develop the transport corridor infrastructure, but also to solve organizational, regulatory and tariff issues.
The main advantage of North–South ITC is that most of the route passes by land and the route itself is shorter than the sea route, providing thus significant acceleration of cargo delivery.
As a result of development of the railway network in the Caspian region and Central Asia, today there are several options for the ITC route. The western route to Iran through Azerbaijan was examined in more detail. It is expected that the missing railway section Astara–Rasht will be completed in the nearest future. Test shipments of goods from India to Russia (and vice versa) have already been carried out via western route.
The characteristics of the route options by transportation distance, delivery time and cost of cargo transportation are given. Today, cost of transportation along the western branch of ITC significantly exceeds cost of sea transportation through the Suez Canal. This and other factors, reducing the efficiency and competitiveness of transportation via ITC, it is proposed to first organize container transportation on ITC section between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. Such transportations might be especially in demand for food products (including perishable goods) in direction from south to north. To this end, it is proposed to organize a scheduled container train service along Astara–Moscow–St. Petersburg route using new Freight Express 2.0 transportation technology.
Transport links largely determine the potential of a country located within the Asian region to interact with market entities beyond region’s borders. Meanwhile, transportation logistics of individual regions, territories, and countries is a complex integrated problem, whose solution is based on the approaches to fundamentals of organisation of the operation of transport infrastructure.
One of the key tasks in organizing the work of the transport system of the Republic of Kazakhstan is to determine the location of the elements of its transport and logistics infrastructure. At present, theoretical and methodological approaches to solving this problem can be divided into multicriteria analysis and coordinate (gravitational method) approach.
The objective of this article is to analyze the possibility of using gravitational and multicriteria methods to find the optimal location for transport and logistics centers using the example of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Based on that the research was intended as an attempt to find optimal location of transport and logistics centers in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was clearly shown that the use of the gravitational method has constraints if not supplemented by the use of the multicriteria analysis method when solving the problem of choosing the optimal location of the transport and logistics infrastructure at the example of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Today, the creation and use of powerful information systems for managing the raw material flows of a metallurgical enterprise transported by the railways allow to diminish turn-round of wagons on the house tracks of the enterprise, to reduce the stock of raw materials in wagons, to create conditions for uninterrupted production, as well as to increase the level of maturity of cross-functional interaction of divisions.
This necessitates the development of a system of rapid collection, analysis, and visualization of information on the supply of raw materials, which will act as a single information space to coordinate the actions of all parties involved. Such an information system should support decisions at both the operational and tactical levels. Operational decisions in this case include changing plans for the current period, purchasing missing volumes, redirecting raw materials to other consumers, prioritization of relevant shipments and wagons’ rearrangement. Tactical level includes revision of reserve and consumption standards, elaboration of special agreements with carriers.
The objective of the study is to investigate the possibility of using an information system for controlling raw material transportation to reduce the turn-round of wagons on the house tracks of a metallurgical enterprise. The authors use general scientific methods, comparative analysis, mathematical methods.
The article studies the main functionality of such a system, presents a methodology for calculating the investment attractiveness of a project, and suggests further directions for development in the field of information interaction between enterprises and rolling stock operators.
The problems of improving the quality of public urban transport services, environmental protection, and public health in large cities and megacities have taken the leading place among the issues on the agenda of public administration bodies, as well as of non-governmental and international organisations.
This context determined the study on the significance, modern conditions, problems, and development outlook regarding the urban public transport in Yerevan.
Important part of the population of the Republic of Armenia lives in the city of Yerevan. Main economic activity of the Republic, as well as urban and private transport facilities are most concentrated in the capital city. The total number of vehicles circulating in the city on working days exceeds 300 thousand units.
Urban public transport of Yerevan plays an important role in ensuring the normal life of residents and guests of the city. At the same time, several serious socio-economic problems are associated with transport, which are aggravating while the economy develops and the volume of cargo, passenger transportation and motorization of the city grows. Such problems, first, include the growth of the number of road traffic accidents, then, serious environmental degradation in the areas adjacent to the highways and in other districts of the city.
In recent years, it has become obvious that the solution to those problems goes beyond the competence and responsibility of the city hall or of any single ministry and requires focusing the efforts of the number of government bodies and of the public at large.
The objective of the study is to identify the main factors affecting the efficiency and safety of urban public transportation, as well as the impact of road traffic on the environment in Yerevan.
Their identification will improve the quality of transport services and transportation safety, as well as reliability of vehicles and of their service properties, reduce their environmental impact, and develop a unified integrated effective and viable system of measures towards a comprehensive and effective solution of transport problems of public urban transport.
The urban passenger public transport as an important element of social infrastructure of megalopolises directly influences the quality of life of city residents, development of town-planning, social and economic potential. Efficiency of urban transport directly depends on the right choice and well-sought designing of its routes.
The objective of the research was to develop based on the overview of existing methods for designing route networks of urban public passenger transport an updated technique allowing to restructure existing routes.
The analysis of route network design methods permitted to reveal their advantages and disadvantages.
An improved methodology for designing route networks is proposed, aimed at solving the problems of restructuring existing route networks and at practical implementation of the results considering existing constraints.
The technique to design route networks of city districts and of small towns is based on the model of road and street network, shown as a detailed graph with subsequent consideration of the arrays of connections of all the vertices of the graph with several points of gravity. QGIS geoinformatics software used to build the graph allows to analyze, visualize, and facilitate the operations with the detailed graph of the transport network of a city district.
Identifying of rational itineraries between points of departure and of gravity is executed by purposed selection of options by criterion of minimum travel time spending. Shaping out of routes is based on principles of integration of the most possible number of points (vertices of the graph) into the route.
The application of an improved technique will allow to consider the changing demand of the population for transport services, make adjustments to the existing route network, thereby satisfying the population’s need for transportation and increasing the efficiency of urban transport networks and motor transport enterprises.
One of the key problems when ensuring the quality of life of residents of large cities of the world is to raise the transport services standards. Among the main aspects of solving this problem is the search for the optimal distribution of flows of personal and ground public municipal passenger transport. In this regard the planning, design, and localization of multifunctional transport interchange hubs (hereinafter – TIH) take on great significance. The experience of their arrangement has received wide acceptance in many countries of the world. In recent years Moscow has also been actively working on the design and construction of TIH; large-scale projects of transport infrastructure facilities construction are being developed. The TIH system should be capable of flexible response to changing transport needs of the population and to their realistic transformation to effectively ensure transport mobility of the population.
The objective of the study is to test the passenger flow analysis methods and their application for simulation of the organization and planning of the transport interchange hub in a large district of the city, planning of the route network of municipal passenger transport.
The route network of suburban and intercity transport of Northern Administrative District of Moscow has been reviewed. The passenger traffic within the TIHs Rechnoy vokzal and Khovrino has been analyzed.
Based on the study, the authors propose to change the route network of ground urban passenger transport. The implementation of route network changing proposals can shorten the time spent on passenger travel and transfer. It is the authors’ opinion that the developed route network is more effective than the existing one and meets the design standards and requirements approved by local city regulations.
EXPRESS INFORMATION
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Modern transport companies around the world actively study the possibility of intra-urban transportation of goods using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
The objective of the study is to reveal the existing problems preventing full-scale introducing of UAVs into the operations of logistics centers that accomplish cargo delivery in modern megacities as well as to propose a possible option for their solution.
The study conducted applying the methods of comparative analysis and generalization showed that the main obstacle to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for cargo delivery is currently unsettled problem of safety when UAVs operate in the urban environment.
The study has analyzed the worldwide UAV traffic safety management programs. Among the programs reviewed were U-Space (the program is implemented by the European Commission and other participants); NASA Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (the program is implemented by NASA and the US Federal Aviation Administration); European Aviation Safety Agency drone categories (the program is implemented by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)); Urban Traffic Management of Unmanned Aircraft System (the program is implemented by Air Traffic Management Research Institute (ATMRI) and other participants). The analysis showed that these programs paid a lot of attention to preventing the UAVs collisions with other air vehicles. But almost no attention was paid to the fact that the flight routes of unmanned aerial vehicles would intersect with the ground highways.
The analysis carried out in the article allows us to conclude that one of the solutions to the problem of UAV implementation in the field of cargo delivery is the development of a new concept of UAV traffic safety in the urban conditions, which will take into account the threat of collision of cargo UAV not only with air vehicles but also with ground ones. The concept should determine the requirements for the
technology for safe traffic of drones over the main surface transport routes including highways, highspeed railways, etc. The development of such a concept will be a turning point for starting the fullscale use of UAVs as a new and effective means of cargo delivery in the city, which, in its turn, will
create the next-generation transport infrastructure in the cities.
The article is devoted to analysis of ways to increase train traffic safety. One of ways to reduce accident rate on railways is timely detection of dangerous objects and notification of all traffic participants, primarily, the driver. Such a notification can be performed with the help of intelligent video surveillance system (IVS). The objective of the article is to study the possibility of using IVS to increase train traffic safety. Method (way to achieve the objective) consists of several stages: development of criteria of compliance of functional possibilities of IVS with tasks to increase train traffic safety, assessment, and calculation of permissible values of fitting criteria.
The work suggests a scheme of organization of IVS based on fiber-optic data transmission system (FOTS) and data transmission network, highlights advantages and disadvantages of IVS, formulates requirements for IVS. Advantage of video surveillance is availability of video information about an object to a train driver, which allows to timely prevent an accident. Disadvantage of IVS is high probability of false detection, which can lead to false triggering of a system.
To reduce the number of false triggering there are two ways: improvement of algorithms of video analytics in recognition device (RD) and increase of quality of video signals at the input of RD. The work is devoted to reduction of probability of false triggering due to improvement of communication quality. It is noted that an efficient method is the use of a new element base of electronics based on nanostructured materials. These materials allow to improve optoelectronic characteristics of main elements of IVS which are photosensors and photoreceivers.
HISTORY WHEEL
The article provides information about the state of Magnitogorsk electric transport during its formation. This is one of the steps to preserving the history of emergence and development of tram traffic, an attempt to outline its fundamental role in formation of the transport system, as well as in socio-economic and political life of Magnitogorsk, one of the first so called social cities of the Soviet Union. The article is structured into sections relating to expansion of the tram route network, state and development of tram fleet. The considered time period captures the years of the Great Patriotic War and is limited to the beginning of the «thaw» in the domestic political life of the Soviet state. Through systematization of documentary evidence, the fundamental role of tram traffic in formation of the transport system of Magnitogorsk for the studied time period is determined. This should contribute to development of information support for research on the historical patterns of formation of urban transport systems in the period of industrialization.
This issue offers the first part of the article.
110 years ago, the experts paid the same attention as they do today to the issues of how to better connect the territories. Immediately after the construction of the Trans-Siberian Main Railroad, the public discussion focused on the construction of the railway from Archangelsk to Ob, from Siberia to Alaska. It is worth also commemorating the first attempt initiated in France to legally regulate the interaction between the infrastructure of different modes of transport, sea and rail transport, to facilitate the multimode transportation.
BIBLIO-DIRECTIONS
The history of transport in Russia: Textbook. Ed. by T. L. Pashkova. Moscow, Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Vocational Education «Training Methodological Center for Railway Education», 2019, 380 р. ISBN 978-5-907055-03-2.
The peer-reviewed textbook is dedicated to the history of origination and development of all modes of transport in Russia. Its main goal is to show evolution historical process of development of technological progress in the transport sector. It is intended for the 1st and 2nd year students of higher education institutions training personnel for transport industry.
The publication may be useful to researchers, Ph.D. students, employees of ministries and departments, as well as to a wide circle of readers, whose attention is drawn to the history of transport and of the transport industry.
