Forecasting Freight Car Truck Durability and Survivability

The technical problem of machine durability and maintainability forecasting is actual for car building to the full extent. Significant dimensions and weight of products and their high cost impose limitations on conducting extended full-scale tests aimed at getting statistically valid results. Experiments with finished products are usually carried out for checking this or that calculating procedure based on the results of material sample mass tests. The given results definitely indicate the interrelation between the cast steel cyclic properties and the CDD descending branch parameters. Its quantitative substantiation requires additional tests of representative samples. Nevertheless, there is no question in perspective of quasistatic material tests with CDD constructing for the primary analysis of material properties, avoiding expensive fatigue and full-scale tests. Availability of the information about material durability and survivability at the stage of truck element designing predetermines solution of the question of their durability and maintainability enhancement.