2012 John Bills
Railway Engineering Student Thesis Award Winner 2012
THESIS: OPTIMAL TRAIN POSITIONING
Place of Study: Curtin University, Perth
The thesis examines opportunities to reduce coupler forces during the un-loading of an iron ore car by altering the velocity-time profile of the car positioner. Two separate models have been considered to investigate how best the objective of reducing the peak coupler forces can be achieved. An analogue continuous-bar model is used to collect data on the longitudinal dynamics induced by base-support motion and a numerical model of the car dumping operation is discussed in which the relationship between maximum coupler force and indexing velocity is considered. The findings suggest that, within reasonable limits, the maximum velocity and acceleration of the positioner has a negligible effect on peak coupler forces.
John Bills receiving the Railway Engineering Student Thesis Award in 2012 from Graham Holden
RUNNERS UP.
Mr. Nathan Loriente and Ms. Jessica Ghaleb.
Thesis: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Railway Ballast Maintenance Practices
Place of Study: Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
Mr Edward Barclay, Shane Roger, Daniel Lewis and Robert Williams.
Thesis: Dry Powder Rail Wagon Design
Place of Study: University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
