Transportation systems and technology

The economic crisis being overcome by the Russian economy, on the one hand, combined with the inevitable globalisation processes, on the other hand, brings to the forefront the economic efficiency of technical processes associated with environmental safety and the possibility of introduction into the world system. One example of effective use of innovative technologies in the interaction of transport systems in the world is the piggyback transportation.

Aim: The author has conducted the analysis of international experience of the organisation of the piggyback transportation in order to identify technological solutions suitable for efficient use in the Russian market of intermodal transportation.

Methods: To assess the efficiency of different technological systems, the author uses comparative analysis methods, inductive reasoning, system approach method. The author has also synthesised the world experience in the organisation of the piggyback transportation.

Result: The results of the analysis have revealed that the current economic situation in Russia allows the evaluation of innovative transport systems in the first place in terms of the possibility of rapid return, which draws attention to the most economical technologies. In this regard, the use of the rolling highway and Lift-on – Lift-off (Lo-Lo) piggyback systems seems to be the most rational at this stage.

Conclusion: Since 1990s Russia has made a number of attempts to organise regular piggyback service on certain routes. However, due to the lack of demand for this type of services in the Russian market at the moment, investing in the development of piggyback technology involves high risks. The experience of other countries shows that regardless of the chosen technology, stimulating the demand for innovative "green technologies" is not possible without the participation of governmental bodies. At the same time, the creation of the necessary methodological framework for the organisation of piggyback transportation in Russia is possible by virtue studying the multifaceted world practice of piggyback technology operation in the world.

Aim: The development of theory and practice of construction science leads to a need to enhance the basics of design, construction and operation of concrete and reinforced concrete structures. Despite significant progress, there is risk of collapse of different structures at various stages of their lifecycle. Current state of construction industry leads to a need to increase the quality and reliability of buildings and structures under construction.

Methods: The authors have used methods of probabilistic forecasting in this work

Results: The development of methods of construction materials control, particularly concrete and reinforced concrete, leads to a gradual implementation of non-destructive control methods. To assess the change of confidence and reliability coefficients of designed structures, the authors have substantiated the transition to probabilistic rationing of strength properties of concrete and reinforced concrete structures using classes. Also, the authors suggest implementation of non-destructive control methods. However, non-destructive control methods have a number of drawbacks, the key among these being the decrease of confidence coefficient while preparing a calibration curve, which drastically affects the results of quality control. It is possible to solve the problem by creating a set of control tests including both destructive and non-destructive quality control methods. This will provide systems for collecting testing information of high accuracy.

Aim: It is known that to simplify the process of transshipment of goods at the junction of different modes of transport, aimed at reducing the cost of transportation of liquid fuel, terminals are used, representing the capacity of different volumes (as cargo in this article means liquid fuel). The size of the designed terminal depends on many factors, but first of all on the mass of fuel to be stored due to inconsistency in the interaction of modes of transport with each other. In addition to this fundamental factor in the construction are considered and others, which in some cases may be important when choosing a terminal scheme. Such factors include, for example, construction costs, future maintenance costs, payback periods of the new terminal, etc.

Problem statement: The development of the new terminal scheme is connected with the solution of a multicriteria problem with an objective choice of the best solution possible. This article shows such a solution using the developed algorithm [3].

Summary: When considering fuel transportation with the participation of terminals, the objective method makes it possible not only to determine the best ways of transportation, but also to find the best schemes of their tank farms.

Aim: The article is devoted to the issue of optimizing the export carriage of synthetic rubber produced in Russian, using the service of express container trains.

Methods: The analysis of volumes distribution of synthetic rubber production between the main Russian producers was made and an alternative option was proposed for the delivery of the products of the largest plant for the production of this raw material to foreign countries. To assess the economic efficiency of the carriage variant by express container trains, a comparison was made with the most commonly used method of rubber transportation by transport costs.

Results: Based on the results of the calculations, it was found that when transporting rubber in containers as part of express container trains, significant savings in transportation costs arise.

Practical significance of the work: The relevance of the proposed variant is due to the growth of cars production and the development of container transportations in the world. As a result, the transport component is reduced in the final cost of production, which allows suppliers to be more competitive in the market for the production of this raw material.

The article deals with the issues of training of specialists and development of design regulatory framework for Russia’s magnetic levitation transport systems.

Introduction: The development of maglev technologies in Russia requires solving the task of training specialists and developing the design regulatory framework for the magnetic levitation transport systems (MLTS). The MLTS related specific issues, namely traction, levitation, lateral stabilisation, power supply systems as well as overall safety, should receive special attention.

Analysis: The maglev transport technology is a further development of a conventional “wheel-track” technology, employing the linear motor and the magnetic levitation system (electromagnetic, electrodynamic, the permanent magnets-based system, and combined types). Each type of MLTS possesses its advantages and limitations, which points at the necessity to justify the choice of an optimal technology.

A crucial issue is to choose (develop) a linear motor for MLTS on the basis of the four related aspects: electromagnetic, thermal, mechanical, and the cost related one.

Another significant issue is the overall safety provision of MLTS. The elaboration of the quality management system should be carried out in accordance with all stages of the life cycle of the wheel-track transport, which is specified in EN 50126, EN 50128, and EN 50129.

Methodology: The methodological base of training specialists and developing the design regulatory framework should become a systematic approach. The necessity of the application of this approach lies in the variety and complexity of physical processes of MLTS. The development of the project and working documentation of the design and construction of MLTS in the territory of Russia should be carried out in accordance with the active Russian legislation, which specifies the application of Special Technical Regulations for new technical systems.

Conclusion: As of today, it is reasonable to develop the training of specialists for MLTS on the basis of the qualification upgrade and professional retraining programmes of the engineering staff, who already possess the fundamental railway education. All the necessary expertise and competences are available at Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University. For many years, the university’s specialists have been working on the development of the maglev technologies in Russia both on the basis of their own researches and on the study and generalisation of the national and international experience. They have also been developing the projects of the design regulatory framework for future MLTS.