Análise estrutural utilizando elementos finitos para aplicação de reforço na extremidade da viga em vagões de minério tipo gôndola da Vale

Abstract

They analysis of the failure events in wagons that occurred on the Estrada de Ferro Carajás (EFC) makes it possible to verify the recurrent appearance of breaks at the Ends of Beams, which generates a fractioning of the railway composition. Thus, to reduce the frequency of events and increase the reliability of the wagons’ operation, the present work investigates the implementation of improvements at the end of the beam. The mapping of the acting stresses was verified by computational analysis using the Finite Element Method (FEM). In the simulations carried out, boundary conditions verified in the field and based on the AAR (Association of American Railroad) Section C - Part 2, Chapter IV, standard were used, which indicates the necessary paraments for all the structures that make up the wagon. Four reinforcement models were tested, the first with a horizontal plate positioned on the side of Beam End, the second with two lateral horizontal plates, the third had the positioning of a rib, and finally, the last study was carried out with two ribs. The second tested model was chosen, as it proved to be more efficient in reducing the average of stresses in the most critical areas, proving to be efficient for the proposed objective