Reducing the Risk of Container Overturning under Wind Loads by Improving the Parameters of Railway Platform Stops

Introduction. The problem of containers overturning off railway platforms has become more acute with the development of logistics and climate change, and is attracting the attention of researchers. This paper examines the situations at various logistics facilities and different capacities. It is known how the risk of overturning depends on the strength of the wind, the curvature of the track, and the height of the rail. There are methods to calculate losses from these incidents. The results of the survey are useful for logistics management, but implementing such solutions takes time and significant resources, so they are rarely implemented in practice. The approach described in this article addresses these limitations by its technical simplicity. Its aim is to demonstrate the effectiveness of adjusting three platform parameters: the lateral gap at the edge, as well as the height and thickness of the stationary stops.

Materials and Methods. The literature on the subject was analyzed, including state standards, technical specifications, and building codes and regulations. The connection between the fitting and the stop, as well as the container's parameters necessary for calculations, were visualized in diagrams. The equations took into account the strength of the wind, its lateral load on the container, and regional characteristics. We used data on a 40-foot container with dimensions of approximately 12.2 meters in length, 2.6 meters in height, and 3.9 tons in weight, with spacing between fittings of approximately 2.3 meters. Regional wind patterns were determined using the “Zoning of the Territory of the Russian Federation by Wind Pressure” map.

Results. It has been proven that a technically simple change in platform stops would significantly reduce the risks of container overturning under significant wind load. It was necessary to minimize the lateral play at the edge of the platform, increase the height of the stationary stop to 106 mm, and its thickness to 56 mm. Without these upgrades, a 40-foot container would overturn at a wind speed of 120 Pa. With the proposed configuration, the stability of the container on the platform was significantly improved. In dry conditions, the container remained stable under wind forces of »834 Pa, with precipitation — »500 Pa. This represented a gain of 7 times and 4.2 times, respectively, in stability.

Discussion. In the initial configuration, a 40-foot container overturns at a wind speed of 11.9 m/s, or in wind zone I, as in Moscow or Minsk. The modernization proposed by the author will allow the container to withstand wind speeds of 37 m/s (zone VII). In rain and snow, the container will overturn at a wind speed of 29.5 m/s. This is zone IV (Kazakhstan and the coast of the Caspian Sea). Currently, there is active automobile and railway traffic here. Cargo traffic is expected to increase in the future due to the implementation of the Silk Road project.

Conclusion. The implementation of the proposed innovation will significantly reduce the likelihood of emergencies due to containers falling from railway platforms and, consequently, increase transportation safety. The solution is characterized by technological simplicity and versatility. The container design remains the same. Individual elements of the platform change minimally.

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