Aspects of Strength Testing of Tank Containers in Compliance with the Requirements of the UN Navigation Rules and Regulations

journal article in Web of Science

en

This article deals with the method of computer-aided studies of the results of tank container impact tests to confirm the ability of portable tanks and multi-element gas containers to withstand the impact in the longitudinal direction on a specially equipped test rig or using a railway flat car by impacting a flat car with a striking car, in compliance with the requirements of the UN Navigation Rules and Regulations. It is shown that the main assessed characteristic of the UN requirements is the spectrum of the shock response (accelerations) for the interval natural frequencies of the shock pulse. The calculation of the points of the shock response spectrum curve based on the test results is reproduced in four stages. A test configuration of the impact testing of the railway flat car with a tank container is presented, and the impact is performed in such a way that, under a single impact, the shock spectrum curve obtained during the tests for both fittings subjected to impact repeats or exceeds the minimum shock spectrum curve for all frequencies in the range of 2 Hz to 100 Hz. Formulas for determining the relative displacements and accelerations for the interval natural frequencies of the shock wave are given. The research results are presented in graphical form, indicating that the experimental values of the shock response spectrum exceed the minimum permissible values; the equation of the experimental curve of the shock response spectrum in the frequency range 0–100 Hz is described by power-law dependence. The coefficients of the equation were determined by the statistical method of maximum likelihood with the determination factor being 0.897, which is a satisfactory value; a comparative analysis showed that the experimental curve of the impact response spectrum in the frequency range 0–100 Hz exceeds the normalized curve, which confirms compliance with regulatory requirements. A new test configuration is proposed using a tank car with a bulk liquid, the processes in which upon impact differ significantly from other freight wagons under longitudinal impact loads of the tank container. The hydraulic impact resulting from the impact on the tank container and the platform creates an overturning moment that causes the rear fittings to be unloaded.

This article deals with the method of computer-aided studies of the results of tank container impact tests to confirm the ability of portable tanks and multi-element gas containers to withstand the impact in the longitudinal direction on a specially equipped test rig or using a railway flat car by impacting a flat car with a striking car, in compliance with the requirements of the UN Navigation Rules and Regulations. It is shown that the main assessed characteristic of the UN requirements is the spectrum of the shock response (accelerations) for the interval natural frequencies of the shock pulse. The calculation of the points of the shock response spectrum curve based on the test results is reproduced in four stages. A test configuration of the impact testing of the railway flat car with a tank container is presented, and the impact is performed in such a way that, under a single impact, the shock spectrum curve obtained during the tests for both fittings subjected to impact repeats or exceeds the minimum shock spectrum curve for all frequencies in the range of 2 Hz to 100 Hz. Formulas for determining the relative displacements and accelerations for the interval natural frequencies of the shock wave are given. The research results are presented in graphical form, indicating that the experimental values of the shock response spectrum exceed the minimum permissible values; the equation of the experimental curve of the shock response spectrum in the frequency range 0–100 Hz is described by power-law dependence. The coefficients of the equation were determined by the statistical method of maximum likelihood with the determination factor being 0.897, which is a satisfactory value; a comparative analysis showed that the experimental curve of the impact response spectrum in the frequency range 0–100 Hz exceeds the normalized curve, which confirms compliance with regulatory requirements. A new test configuration is proposed using a tank car with a bulk liquid, the processes in which upon impact differ significantly from other freight wagons under longitudinal impact loads of the tank container. The hydraulic impact resulting from the impact on the tank container and the platform creates an overturning moment that causes the rear fittings to be unloaded.

tank-container; shock response spectrum; impact loads; acceleration; determination factor

23.03.2021

MDPI

BASEL

2077-1312

9

3

1–18

18