2020 Shah Ahmad
Post Graduate Thesis Award 2020
THESIS: ANALYSIS OF A VERY LOWE TARE MASS WAGON CONCEPT FOR INTERMODAL FREIGHT
2020 Post Graduate Thesis Award
Winner
Dr. Shah Sanjar Nafis Ahmad
Doctor of Philosophy
Place of Study: Central Queensland University
The tare load of railway freight wagons is significant compared to the gross load (13-43% of the gross load) which not only reduces the possibility of carrying higher payload but also increases the energy consumption per payload tonne hauled. In this thesis, the possibility of lowering the tare load by replacing a two-bogie freight wagon with a new concept two-axle wagon that satisfies the requirements of dynamics and roadworthiness was studied. A rigorous testing and verification regime using vehicle dynamics analyses and optimizations was used to develop the new wagon design together with an innovative axle suspension system consisting of a conventional leaf spring and the UIC link suspension in series with two multi-stage coil springs. With added longitudinal stiffness, the new concept wagon showed excellent dynamics stability and good capability of negotiating isolated geometric track defects. The energy saving using the new concept was estimated at 6% to 12% across various operating scenarios