Development of an on-board system for diagnosing the technical condition of the tread surface of the wheels of wagons

Introduction. The aim of the study is to develop a basic configuration of the on-board system for diagnosing the technical condition of the wheels tread surface of a wagon while the train is running and to model its operation.Materials and methods. The theoretical studies are based on the methods of Lagrange's analytical mechanics, the theory of oscillations and classical electrodynamics. The simulation was carried out for a flat design scheme using numerical methods. The results were processed using the developed algorithm implemented in the programming language of the Mathcad system.Results. This article studies the problem of the negative impact of local wear of the wheel tread surface on the state of the carriage chassis of the car and the rail track, as well as on the safety of train traffic. The authors propose a basic configuration of an on-board system for diagnosing wheel pairs of a wagon with an autonomous power supply with a power of up to 10 W, which simultaneously acts as a sensor. A mathematical model of diagnostic signals for local wheel wear has been constructed, and an algorithm for their detection has been developed based on the results. A criterion for estimating the geometric parameters of wear is formulated and its threshold values for slots of various depths are calculated. Alarms have been identified that suggest a reduction in the speed of the train.Discussion and conclusion. The solution of the stated problem is important both in the operation of existing cars and in the development of new, innovative cars with an axle load of 27–30 tf and speeds of up to 140 km/h. Timely detection of local wear of the tread surface of wagon wheels will increase the level of traffic safety and reduce the cost of repairing cars and rail tracks.