Research on the stability of cars in accordance with EN 14363 with the development of a testing algorithm
Students Name: Dobrovolskyi Mykhailo
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: Functional Safety of Railway Transport
Institute: Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Transport
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2025-2026 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: Ensuring running stability and preventing derailments of rolling stock is one of the key tasks of modern railway transport, as the dynamic interaction within the “wheel–rail” system directly determines the level of operational safety. Defective conditions of wagon running gear or track infrastructure may lead to the formation of hazardous dynamic processes that increase the likelihood of railway accidents. This study examines modern approaches to evaluating the running stability indicators of freight wagons, analyses the existing calculation methods used on Ukrainian railways, and compares them with the European requirements of EN 14363. It is shown that the current Ukrainian methodologies do not fully take into account the influence of track geometry, wheelset wear, and the actual character of wheel–rail interaction. The features of testing procedures according to EN 14363 are reviewed, the list of safety criteria and measurement requirements is presented, and different evaluation methods—normal, simplified, stand-based, and combined—are analysed. The algorithmisation of the wagon testing process in accordance with EN 14363 is examined, and a generalized algorithm for conducting such tests is proposed. Additional attention is given to the potential use of mathematical and computer modelling for preliminary assessment of the dynamic behaviour of rolling stock, which helps reduce the volume of costly field tests and enhances the accuracy of predicting hazardous operating regimes. The solutions proposed in this work are aimed at improving safety levels, enhancing testing procedures, and harmonizing the Ukrainian regulatory framework with European standards. Keywords: running safety, wheel–rail interaction, EN 14363, dynamic indicators, wheelset stability, rolling stock testing, mathematical modelling.