Abstract
The paper deals with the current problems of developing and justifying technical solutions for the design of a long-base flat car for the transportation of high-capacity containers, which is associated with the need to improve the efficiency of container transportation under modern operating conditions. Based on the analysis of existing designs of flat cars, as well as the results of complex theoretical studies of the loading of their main components using modern engineering programs that implement the finite element method, an improved design of a long-base flat car is proposed and substantiated. The results of numerical modeling are confirmed by experimental studies conducted using the strain gauge method, which demonstrated a satisfactory correspondence between the calculated and experimental data. The developed design is characterized by improved technical and operational characteristics, reduced tare weight and increased load capacity by 1 ton, demonstrates a more uniform load distribution and increased durability under the considered loading conditions, which contributes to the competitiveness of the proposed flat car design. Thanks to the results obtained, at present, the car-building enterprises of the Republic of Uzbekistan have established the production of promising long-base flat cars, which contributes to improving the competitiveness of the proposed flat car design.