Evaluation of the Efficiency of the Use of Hopper Cars with Aluminum Alloy Bodies

Abstract

The use of aluminium and its alloys in the world history of car building began in the 30s of the last century. The paper considers various types of cars made using aluminium alloys produced in different countries, as well as an assessment of the effect of the use of cars with bodies made of aluminium alloys in the Russian Federation. The effect was determined for three parties of the transportation process: car owners, the carrier and the consignor. The paper calculated the effect of using a hopper car made of aluminium alloys model 19-1299 with an axle load of 25 tf in comparison with hopper cars with steel bodies with an axial load of 25 and 23.5 tf. It is shown that for the consignor and the carrier, the use of a car with an aluminium body by reducing the tare weight and increasing the carrying capacity brings a significant economic effect, at the same time, as for the owner of the car, there is a reasonable increase in the price of the car by 25–30 %. The purchase of cars with aluminum bodies is more expensive for the owner, and therefore it is necessary to increase the rental rate to compensate for the costs or take measures for state support.