STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE HATCH COVER CONSTRUCTION

Purpose. The work aims at structural-functional description of the existing construction of hatch covers of gondola cars to find possible ways of their modernization and improvement. Methodology. The research and analysis are based on principles of morphological study of technical systems and systems approach. The research takes into account the results of the leading research on the topic, the authors' own development, mathematical justification and computer modeling. Calculation of the structural elements of the rolling stock was carried using modern normative and developed methodologies. Findings. The system approach in creating an innovative hatch cover allowed the design to be presented in the form of a series of interconnected and interacting subsystems, taking into account the main factors of their functioning. Authors developed the structural-functional model of the hatch cover of the gondola car, which showed that the hatch cover plate is the basic element, the structural-parametric and functional properties of which determine the corresponding characteristics of other nodal and base elements of its design. We established that the main functions of the hatch cover are distributed through the constituent elements of the first hierarchical level (between nodes): the frame serves as the reinforcing element of the plate and the base for installing other nodes, except the torsion ones. The proposed theoretical propositions, methodological foundations and practical methods of structural and functional analysis are expedient for using in the search for optimization ways and other elements of rolling stock, as well as objects of transport engineering. Originality. The methodological foundations for the creation of a structural and functional description of the hatch cover are proposed and the results of its implementation are presented, which can be used in studies of the processes of their functioning, perception and redistribution of different types of loads, taxonomy, increasing the degree of their ideality, identification of objects considered in design, repair. Practical value. The structural-functional description allowed projecting an innovative design of the hatch cover, including its frameless execution, a model with a convex design of the plate in the direction of counteracting the mass of the cargo. Using the proposed models of hatch covers, effective modernization of the domestic park of gondola cars is possible.