To the problem of train running safety

The paper is presenting the procedure used for establishing the cause of the wagon derailment. To do this, the computer simulations and the computational software, developed in the Dnipro National University of Railway Transport (DIIT) were used. The level of longitudinal forces and the wagons dynamic performance have been evaluated using the mathematical models of longitudinal oscillations of a train and the spatial vibrations of wagons, in particular of tank wagons. As a result of modeling we obtained oscillograms of longitudinal forces in each inter-wagon connection, the dependence of the largest longitudinal forces on travel time and distance traveled, the distribution of the maximum longitudinal forces along the train length, the speed dependence on travel time and track coordinates. We also obtained the dynamic performance of wagons: the vertical dynamics coefficients of the axle-box and central suspension, the horizontal dynamics coefficients and the derailment stability coefficient. The influence of the movable load in the tank wagons and the characteristics of rail irregularities on the stability coefficient against wheel climbing onto the rail is also considered. The presented methodology was used to determine the cause of the tank wagon derailment in a non-homogenous freight train consisting of 50 wagon tanks on an existing track section of the Lithuanian railways. When simulating the train movement, it was assumed that the train was equipped with elastic-friction absorbing devices and air distributors, turned on to the average operation mode. As a result of numerical experiments, an assumption was made about the cause of the train derailment.