24.03.2022
The domestic aluminium hopper railcar of the new generation was admitted to train testing. This was announced by Sergey Drobzhev, Head of Technical Development at RM Rail, during the presentation of the innovative railcar at Ruzkhimmash (part of RM Rail) in Ruzayevka, Republic of Mordovia.
The body of the new modification 19-1299 hopper railcar is made of the 1581 aluminium alloy developed by the Institute of Light Materials and Technologies (ILM&T). Compared to the prototype model 19-1244 certified in 2017, the capacity of the new generation hopper railcar was increased to 79 tonnes, and the body volume reached 111 cubic metres. A distinctive feature of the 1581 alloy was an increase in strength by 35% while maintaining the density and improved corrosion resistance.
Sergey Drobzhev, Head of Technical Development at RM Rail.jpg 'Aluminium alloy is inert to many types of cargo that can disable rolling stock made of steel. It provides maximum protection against aggressive cargoes, including mineral fertilisers, soda ash, cement, and others. We associate further development prospects of freight railcar building with aluminium alloys. This type of railcar is the next step in terms of improving the design,' said Sergey Drobzhev.
Train tests are one of the main stages in developing a railcar design and assessing its strength characteristics, during which the railcar smooth running, dynamic forces acting on the railcar and railway track elements, strength and reliability of the railcar in long-term operation are tested, as well as a number of other general dynamic tests are performed. The result of acceptance tests is the suitability of the railcar for operation.
The 19-1299 hopper railcar will be the first in a series of freight railcars made of aluminium. The production of a prototype tank railcar for transportation of concentrated nitric acid is at the final stage. The service life of the railcar is 40 years.
In 2023, a tank container for LNG transportation with an inner vessel made of aluminium alloy will be launched into repetitive production. For this purpose, a new production line for small series of cryogenic tanks and aluminium alloy tanks is being created based on the Ruzkhimmash plant, which is not inferior in its capabilities to similar productions in Russia.
Only domestic materials, components and technologies are used in the production of aluminium railcars, including friction stir welding (FSW). 'Structurally similar elements have passed relevant tests by the artificial aging method and have proven their viability and durability. These tests allowed us to increase the service life of the hopper to 40 years,' says Sergey Drobzhev.