| Summary: | The research presented in this report was carried out by Operation and Maintenance Engineering at Luleå University of Technology (LTU) from November 2015 to April 2016. LKAB initiated the research study and provided financial support. The purpose of this research was to support LKAB and Trafikverket in their operational strategy review and optimization of future axle load implementations. It developed five research questions and answered them by analyzing the data for the Malmbanan iron ore train axle loads for 2015.Data analysis comprises four parts. In the first part (section 2), the analysis focuses on axle loads of all loaded trains operating at three different terminals: Kiruna, Malmberget, and Svappavaara. In addition, it examines the differences of three weighing locations in Kiruna, five weighing locations in Malmberget and four weighing locations in Svappavaara (12 weighing locations). Based on these results, the analysis in the second part (section 3) focuses on the heavy haul wagon. Wagon loads are evaluated and predicted for different loading rules (31.0 and 32.5 tons separately). To optimize the current loading rules, the third part of the analysis (section 4) proposes a novel approach to optimize the wagon axle loads: “three sigma prediction”. Under this approach, Kiruna, Malmberget and Svappavaara can set new target loads based on various risk levels. In the fourth and final part of the data analysis (section 5), a comparison study is carried out by collecting axle load data for the test train (with a 32.5 ton axle load) using three different measurement systems in Malmberget, Sävast and Sunderbyn. Finally, sections 6 and 7 summarize the results and make some recommendations for future work. The work presented in this report should give LKAB and Trafikverket a good overview of the load distribution for the ore trains operating on Malmbanan line. It can serve as input into the process of evaluating possible changes in axle load limits. It also gives LKAB a base from which to identify and work with ...
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