Problems, assumptions and solutions in locomotive design, traction and operational studies

Locomotive design is a highly complex task that requires the use of systems engineering that depends upon knowledge from a range of disciplines and is strongly oriented on how to design and manage complex systems that operate under a wide range of different train operational conditions on various types of tracks. Considering that field investigation programs for locomotive operational scenarios involve high costs and cause disruption of train operations on real railway networks and given recent developments in the rollingstock compliance standards in Australia and overseas that allow the assessment of some aspects of rail vehicle behaviour through computer simulations, a great number of multidisciplinary research studies have been performed and these can contribute to further improvement of a locomotive design technique by increasing the amount of computer-based studies. This paper was focused on the presentation of the all-important key components required for locomotive studies, starting from developing a realistic locomotive design model, its validation and further applications for train studies. The integration of all engineering disciplines is achieved by means of advanced simulation approaches that can incorporate existing AC and DC locomotive designs, hybrid locomotive designs, full locomotive traction system models, rail friction processes, the application of simplified and exact wheel-rail contact theories, wheel-rail wear and rolling contact fatigue, train dynamic behaviour and in-train forces, comprehensive track infrastructure details, and the use of co-simulation and parallel computing. The co-simulation and parallel computing approaches that have been implemented on Central Queensland University’s High-Performance Computing cluster for locomotive studies will be presented. The confidence in these approaches is based on specific validation procedures that include a locomotive model acceptance procedure and field test data. The problems and limitations presented in locomotive traction studies in the way they are conducted at the present time are summarised and discussed.

An Expert System-Based Automation in Indian Traction System for a One Way Single Platform Station by Introducing PLC

Nowadays, it is very often that some portion of the Indian traction system is still suffering from a single line railway transportation. This in turn creates a havoc disturbance in maintaining the proper sequence of traction control system. Also, passengers are taking risk to catch the train which is already in motion but no such action has been taken to eliminate these consequences. It has been found that more or less various works have been done on Automation in Railway Crossing Gate using Microcontroller and IR Sensor. Thus, it is often decided to develop an idea for the Indian traction system to ensure better controlling action by introducing Limit Switches as Tactile Sensors and by introducing HMI using PLC. The purpose here to take control over various controlling domains, including Railway crossing gate are as follows: Track signal, crossing level signal, alarm notification, and platform edge fence. The proper sequencing needs to be operated via a 128 I/O module with 2 KB memory size small PLC kit.

Bath for Underwater Horizontal Polysegmental Kinesitraction Treatment of the Spine and Lower Extremities Lesions, Methods of Its Use

Introduction. Traction in dynamic mode (kinesitraction) is a new direction protected by patents of Ukraine, which combines the procedure of traction and motor activity. Traction treatment of the spine in a dynamic mode plays an important role in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, so it is important to understand the structure, mechanisms and features of the structures involved in these processes, including the bath developed by us. The aim of the study. To acquaint with a design of a bath for underwater horizontal polysegmental kinesitraction treatment of the spine and lower extremities lesions, methods of its use. Materials and methods. Content analysis, method of system and comparative analysis, bibliosemantic method of studying the actual scientific researches on baths’ designs for underwater horizontal polysegmental kinesitraction treatment of the spine and lower extremities lesions, methods of its use are used. Sources are searched in scientometric databases: PubMed, Medline, Springer, Google Scholar, Research Gate by tags: kinesitraction, musculoskeletal system, underwater horizontal treatment of the spine, traction, traction system. 22 English and Ukrainian literary sources which describe this problem were selected and analyzed. The description of the bath for underwater horizontal segmental traction treatment of the spine and lower extremities lesions in the dynamic mode was used (Certificate of copyright registration for a scientific work N 99985, 25.10.2020). Results. The designed by us bath for underwater polysegmental kinesitraction treatment of lesions of the spine and lower extremities (Certificate of registration of copyright to a scientific work N 99985, 2020) is intended for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, internal organs, disorders of vital systems in the aquatic environment by exposure to dosed motor and traction loads. The design includes a water bath, armrests, handles, footrest, racks, cervical block system, chest block system, lumbar block system, head restraint belt, chest strap, pelvic girdle, shin strap, cable, load. Using a bath it is possible to carry out tractions of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine, their combinations, lower extremities, or total provide the traction. Conclusions. Traction treatment of the spine in a dynamic mode plays an important role in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, being more effective than static. The understanding of the structure, methods and features of the structures involved in these processes, including our developed baths for underwater horizontal polysegmental hydrokinesitraction treatment of lesions of the spine and lower extremities, based on the correction of disorders of the nervous, musculoskeletal systems caused by morphological, biochemical, physiological mechanisms of stimulation of the functions of vital systems, regeneration processes, and the proposed methods of their use is an important component of effective treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Keywords: kinesitraction, musculoskeletal system, underwater horizontal treatment of the spine, traction, traction system.

Influence of friction coefficient on mechanical properties of braided wire rope in winding traction state

In the construction of cable erections, when passing through the reel of the tractor, the braided wire rope used for traction in the state of winding traction is subjected to the composite action of tensile, bending, extrusion, friction and other forces, of which the stress condition is the most complicated, and the wear is the most likely to occur. The Friction coefficient is an important factor which directly affects the mechanical and wear properties of wire ropes. Therefore, according to the cable traction condition, the influence of friction coefficient on the rope tension attenuation during the winding traction process is analyzed. Because the wear of wires between braided wire rope strands is the most serious, this paper focuses on the influence of the friction coefficient between the rope strands on the mechanical properties of wire ropes. Regarding YS9-8×19 braided wire rope as the research object, a solid model of “rope-wheel” winding traction system is established. Based on the actual conditions, the finite element simulation model of winding traction system is established by setting load and constraint conditions. The influence of friction coefficients on the stress and deformation of braided wire rope strands is researched, by setting different friction coefficients between rope strands and analyzing the simulation results, in order to provide theoretical instructions of braided wire ropes used for traction.