Selected Aspects of Testing the Strength of Movable Joints of a Prototype Intermodal Platform-Regulations and Practice

Abstract

A cheap, easy-to-build basic module and multiplatform configurations obtained by connecting basic modules with dimensions corresponding to typical rail containers (10-foot, 20-foot, or larger) can be used to support intermodal rail-road transport of wooden and metal logs, including pipes, products transported on pallets and loose materials. This paper presents assumptions of the hybrid numerical research method and selected aspects of numerical strength tests of platform-containers in the basic 10-foot configuration. Multibody analyses (MBS), the finite element method (FEM), the original methodology, and various class mathematical models of the tested platforms were used appropriately in numerical tests. In the analysis of the results of multi-variant tests with the use of maximum operating loads, special attention was paid to the stress exerted on the joints between the movable components of the intermodal platform.