Currently, there are about 150 manufacturers of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP), which are constantly designing and implementing new machines with advanced capabilities. Along with the improvement of hoisting equipment, the support devices of the MEWP are also improved. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the coefficient of increase of the support surface area after the deployment of a mobile hoist for different types of support devices. Goal. The aim of this work is to study how the coefficient of increase of the support surface area after the deployment of the support device depends on the length of the support projecting for different designs of support devices used in MEWP. Methodology. Analytical methods of studying the designs with variable geometrical parameters were used in the work. To obtain the dependences of the coefficient of increase of the support surface area after the deployment of the support device on the length of the support projecting, the methods of mathematical modeling employing computer technology were used. Results. The analysis of the dependences of the coefficient of the support surface area increase after the deployment of the support device on the length of the support projecting showed that the use of the considered support devices enlarges the coefficient of increase of the support surface area from 1.9 with angular supports to 3.4 for Spider type support devices. Originality. It is proposed to consider the coefficient of increase of the support surface area, which enables to take into account the lengths and angles of the supports when determining the support surface area. Practical value. With the results of the study it is possible to choose the type of support device and its geometric parameters at the design stage which will

Purpose. This study aims to use linear models to determine the wear of brake pads of freight cars at the top and bottom for further use in solving similar practical problems. Methodology. As a working technique the known approach for controlling linear wear changes of pad parameters depending on freight cars run on a network of Ukrzaliznytsia JSC with the modernized brake levers in real operating conditions is used. Based on the obtained statistical data in the operating conditions, we the consistently found values of the corresponding regression analysis indicators for pad wear at specific points, which are recommended by regulatory documents when performing maintenance in operational units of car facilities for brake systems of freight cars. Findings. A probabilistic-statistical model of brake pad wear is constructed on the basis of experimental data collected in the respective parks of the sorting station during the operation of freight cars. The function of wear distribution for the top and bottom part of a pad by means of which the decision of practical problems is possible is offered. Also for different parts of the brake pad found its γ-percentage and average residual wear. Originality. For the first time for the brake pads of freight cars with modernized devices, the functional dependence of their wear depending on the run of cars on the network of Ukrzaliznytsia JSC was determined. Based on the received dependence the statistical model of pad wear taking into account possibilities of their use before full resource exhaustion is developed. The function of distribution of run of freight cars taking into account pad wear due to which the wear percent at the set run is also defined. Practical value. The results obtained in the work will be taken into account in the future to solve technical problems related to non-standard wear of pads in the brake systems of bogies and increase the service life of freight cars.