The Evaluation of the Adaptation of the GDT Draft System to the MRS' Operation: Analysis of the Performance and Suggestions for Improvements

摘要

The draft systems are part of the railroad's life since its beginning of activities. This important system , which was bom simple, has suffered different changes over the years aiming its standardizations and operational performance improvement. However, what currently is noticed in Heavy Haul railroads is that the applied system presents technical limitations facing the current demand of this market, which has operated longer and heavier trains. With the increasing demand predicted for the new future, failures in this system will affect the transit in the railways even more.This article analyses the system applied in MRS' most significant Heavy Haul train, the GDT train, in the flow of ore exportation, and determines its weaknesses, pointing out the data and facts observed in maintenance and operation. This study establishes a line of development for the system based on the increase of damping of the draft system and based on the decrease of clearances in couplings, utilizing a physical model of the draft system. This study also establishes guidelines for the development and appliance of a new system and suggests immediate actions for the maintenance of the systems currently in operation.