Investigations of composite panels mounted in the cargo space of a freight wagon

The paper presents a series of experimental and numerical studies, carried out under the project number PBS2/A6/17/2013 realized as a part of the Applied Research Program, funded by the National Research and Development Centre. The aim of this project is to develop technology, manufacture, and assembly of composite panels on the side of a freight wagon in order to prolong the this operation. The article describes research which aimed to strength analysis of the side of the freight wagon and analysis of the behavior of structural connections of composite panels mounted on the side of the wagon. These studies were carried out on the test bench developed by the authors. During the research stresses and displacements has been analyzed at selected structural elements of the wagon before and after the modifications. The research also included an analysis of the behavior of the connections composite panels with steel components by static extortion on the side of the wagon. In parallel with the ongoing laboratory research steps have been taken to set up a FEM model by means of which was carried out similar numerical studies. Comparison of the results made it possible to adjust (tune) FEM model.