Analysis of coupling system failures on freight trains

Marija Vukšić Popović; Jovan  Tanasković; Zorica Starčević; Nebojša  Međedović

doi:10.14513/actatechjaur.00687

Authors

Marija Vukšić Popović Department School of Railroad Transport, Academy of Technical and Art Applied Studies Belgrade, Zdravka Čelara Str., 14, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
Jovan Tanasković Department of Rail Vehicles, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Kraljice Marije Str., 16 , Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
Zorica Starčević Joint Stock Company for Freight Railway Transport “Serbia Cargo“ Belgrade, Nemanjina Str., 6, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
Nebojša Međedović Joint Stock Company for Freight Railway Transport “Serbia Cargo“ Belgrade, Nemanjina Str., 6, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14513/actatechjaur.00687

Keywords:

coupling system failure, railway, risk analysis, train breaks apart

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of train coupling failure that led to trains break apart on the Serbian Railways over 10 years period. Train coupling failure of freight trains with single locomotives was considered. The analysis was done based on accident data combine with FMECA risk assessment. As a result distribution of failure along the train, driving regime and velocity were obtained, as well as the frequency of failure concerning the length and mass of the trains, load status, etc. The systematization of coupling failure helped to establish conditions leading to failure and to define the parameters causing it. Risk factors for coupling failure were determined using FMECA risk assessment. Preventive measures are recommended for the revision of maintenance. Risk analysis of coupling system failure can be different depending on the time of analysis (regulations, exploitation conditions) and the applied maintenance practice. FMECA analysis applied to train coupling systems based on regulation shows different permissible risk values that don't match exploitation data.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on railway safety, Official Journal of the European Union, L 138/102. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016L0798-20201023

Rail accidents by type of accident (ERA data), Eurostat, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/TRAN_SF_RAILAC__custom_4989745/default/table?lang=en

V. Infante, C. M. Branco, et al., A failure analysis study of cast steel railway couplings used for coal transportation. Engineering Failure Analysis 10 (4) (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1350-6307(03)00012-8

M. Mohammadi, A. Rahmatfam, et al., Failure analysis study of railway draw-hook coupler, Journal of Central South University, (26) (2019) pp. 916–924. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11771-019-4060-4

A. Cernescu, I. Dumitru, et al., The analysis of a damaged component from the connection system of the wagons, Engineering Failure Analysis, (29) (2013) pp. 93–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2012.11.009

F. Nový, M. Jambor, et al., Investigation of the brittle fracture of the locomotive draw hook, Engineering Failure Analysis, (105) (2019) pp. 305–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2019.07.019

R. Ulewicz, F. Nový, et al., The investigation of the fatigue failure of passenger carriage drawhook, Engineering Failure Analysis, Elsevier Ltd. (104) (2019) pp. 609–616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2019.06.036

M. Vukšić Popović, J. Tanasković, et al., Experimental and numerical research on the failure of railway vehicles coupling links, Engineering Failure Analysis, (127) (2021), 105497, ISSN 1350-6307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2021.105497

M. Vukšić Popović, Failure analysis of draw gear and screw coupling of railway vehicles as a factor of safety and trains break risk, Ph.D. thesis, University of Belgrade Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, (2021), in Serbian. https://nardus.mpn.gov.rs/handle/123456789/18628

Statistical report on accidents and incidents in „Serbia Cargo“, https://www.srbcargo.rs/sr/statisticki-izvestaji-o-nesrecama-i-nezgodama/

Traffic and safety reports of rail transport on Serbian Railways, „Serbian Railways“, Belgrade, 2013.

M. Vukšić Popović, J. Tanasković, et al., The trend of train coupling failure on Serbian railways in 10 year period, XX International Scientific-Expert Conference on Railway RAILCON ’22, Niš, Serbia, 2022, pp. 109-112. https://railcon.rs/Proceedings/Railcon_22_Conference_Proceedings.pdf

Guideline: Reliability, availability, maintainability, safety - Implementation of EN 50126 for Mechanical Components in Railway, UIC B 169/RP 43 RAMS (2015).

Railway Applications - The Specification and Demonstration of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) - Part 1: Generic RAMS Process, EN 50126-1:2017 (2017).

Railway applications - Specification and demonstration of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) Part 2: Systems Approach to Safety, EN 50126-2:2019 (2019).

M. Vukšić Popović, J. Tanasković, Z. Starčević, Risk assessment of coupling system failure on train in current maintenance system, XX

International Scientific-Expert Conference on Railway RAILCON ’22, Niš, Serbia, 2022, pp. 117-120. https://railcon.rs/Proceedings/Railcon_22_Conference_Proceedings.pdf