Space-Proven: Vibration Dampers Made of Material Developed for Orbital Stations Will Equip New Locomotives

At the end of 2018, the research laboratory of Samara University delivered the first experimental batch of vibration dampers for new domestic locomotive diesel engines DM-185. From 2019, it is planned to equip all diesel engines of this series, and over time, high-speed engines will replace obsolete power plants in the Russian Railways locomotive technology.

High-tech production facilities have been established on the basis of Samara University, which will ensure constant production output for the customer of “Sinara-Transport Machines” Holding (STM, part of  Sinara Group). The project implementation will enable to attract over 400 million rubles to the Samara Region by 2030. Over 70 million rubles of this finance will be transferred to the regional budget in the form of taxes. Wherein within the framework of production diversification aerospace cluster enterprises will be loaded with orders for the manufacture of component parts of vibration dampers for more than 200 million rubles. 

"The project is beneficial for the Samara Region, because it enables to enter a huge market: the wear degree of locomotive equipment exceeds 60%, and JSC “Russian Railways” regularly updates it. New diesel locomotives are introduced, old ones are being repaired. At the same time, the Russian Railways programme for the production of new and modernization of old diesel locomotives until 2030 will require the manufacture of almost 15,000 vibration dampers", — told Deputy Chief Designer of the Department of Aircraft Engine Construction and Design of Samara University Danila Davydov.

The peculiarity of the material proposed by Samara University scientists (MR is a metal analogue of rubber) is its space basis –  it was originally developed for damping of various components on spacecrafts. Many years of experience gained by engineers of the university as a result of successful experiments in outer space found its embodiment in ground-based technologies.

"The implementation of a unique material of metal rubber, created and patented by the scientists of Samara University, allows us to meet the high reliability requirements of “Russian Railways”. Initially, the MR material was developed for spacecrafts. The operation in space implies extreme loads — radiation, vacuum, corrosive media, intense dynamic loads, high and low temperatures. Space testing is the best practical proof of the reliability of the MR",  – said Danila Davydov.

In 2018, the technical design proposal of Samara University for new diesel generators turned out to be more competitive than the proposal of “Voith” (German  multinational corporation in the mechanical engineering sector) at the competition on preliminary design of the projects for designing vibration dampers for new domestic locomotive diesel engines DM-185. According to the Deputy Chief Designer of the Department of Aircraft Engine Construction and Design of Samara University, when evaluating the proposals, STM experts took into account the unique design solutions that ensure high vibration protection characteristics and reliability of the dampers when operating in the harsh Russian climate.

New vibration dampers are designed for higher frequencies, have improved damping properties and are more technological. "Our vibration dampers are being created for testing the first prototype of a new engine. The experts will also conduct a comparative analysis of our "old" forced dampers and new ones, –  said Danila Davydov. – The customer provided us with their technical requirements for vibration dampers for engines DM-185. After analyzing them, we realized that design experience and knowledge of the capabilities of the MR material allow us to offer a more reliable, technologically advanced and modern design. We will make our version, and the one that was planned according to the TOR, and then we will carry out bench tests and find out which dampers are better".

However, the project implementation  involves only funding for the production of an experimental batch of products and carrying out their full-scale tests, which cannot be achieved without exploratory work. Therefore, research and development work of the university on the creation of highly damped vibration devices received funding under the regional programme "Creating an Enabling Environment for Investment and Innovation Activity in the Samara Region". A large-scale project, in which Samara University is the leading executor, will enable to provide the aerospace cluster enterprises of the region with orders.

For reference

"Sinara-Transport Machines" Holding has been cooperating with Samara University since 2017 – at that time mass production of low-frequency (3-4 Hz) vibration-proof dampers based on MR for diesel engines of the past generation DM-21 was established. Now the Department of Aircraft Engine Construction and Design provides the release of ten diesel generators for diesel locomotives with its vibration-proof devices per month.

Photo: Anastasia Korotkova