Calculated and experimental analysis of cause of the appearance of cracks in the running bogie frame of diesel multiple units of Serbian railways

Abstract In this paper an analysis of possible causes of crack occurrence on reconstructed diesel multiple units (DMU) exploited on sideline in Serbia was performed. Analyzed DMU were designed in the sixties of the last century in accordance with standards and UIC regulations of that time. During exploitation cracks appeared on the frame of the running bogie and they were locally repaired. With the purpose of eliminating this negative occurrence that has been reducing the availability of DMU, reconstruction of primary suspension and reconstruction of the DMU running bogie frame was performed. The new construction solution of primary suspension is with rubber springs. In the designing of the new running bogie frame fatigue loads were taken into account. After approximately two and a half years of exploitation, cracks appeared again on frames of the running bogie of DMU and they are the subject of this work. This work gives an analysis of the cause of crack occurrence and investigates links between specific exploitation conditions on tracks of Serbian railways and calculations/investigations performed using currently valid UIC regulations. The analysis also includes other influential factors such as welding quality, track quality, DMU and track maintenance quality.