Evaluation of cab car crashworthiness design modifications

Tyrell, David; Seversen, K.J.; Mayville, Ronald A.; Stringfellow, Richard; Berry, Seth M.; Perlman, Amotz

doi:10.1109/rrcon.1997.581353

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…A number of severe train collisions in which the impacting vehicles are initially offset or oblique have occurred over the past few years (19,20,21). A collision is oblique when the longitudinal centerlines of the colliding cars are not parallel and is offset when the centerlines are parallel, but not coincident.…”

Section: Train Crashworthinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rail passenger equipment accidents and the evaluation of crashworthiness strategies

Tyrell

2002

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F:

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The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Office of Research and Development has been conducting research into rail equipment crashworthiness. The approach taken in conducting this research has been to review relevant accidents, identify options for design modifications to improve occupant survivability, and to apply analytic tools and testing techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies. Accidents have been grouped into three categories: train-to-train collisions, collisions with objects, such as grade crossing collisions, and derailments and other single train events. In order to determine the potential effectiveness of improved crashworthiness equipment, computer models have been used to simulate the behavior of conventional and modified equipment in scenarios based on accidents. INTRODUCTIONTrain accidents can be tragic events, with loss of life and serious injuries. The crashworthiness features of the train are intended to minimize fatalities and injuries if an accident does occur. The purpose of such features is to preserve sufficient space for the occupants to ride out the collision, and to maintain the forces and decelerations imparted to the occupants within survivable levels. Structural features of the cars, such as longitudinal strength of the carbody and crush zones at the ends of cars, influence how well the cars preserve the occupant volume during a collision and the decelerations imparted to the occupants. Occupant protection features inside the car, such as compartmentalization, influence the forces imparted to the occupants.

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Section: Train Crashworthinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rail passenger equipment accidents and the evaluation of crashworthiness strategies

Tyrell

2002

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F:

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“…This approach was used in the development of the crashworthiness specifications for Amtrak's high-speed trainset, which is now in service in the Northeast Corridor. Additional studies of alternative crashworthiness approaches and occupant protection measures were also carried out to support the development of the high-speed trainset crashworthiness specifications (12,13,14).…”

Section: Role Of Research In Developing Crashworthiness Standardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Train collision dynamics can be analyzed using lump-mass parameter models, with non-linear force characteristics developed from crush analysis of the cars (14,18,20,26). Such models may be one-dimensional, planar, or three-dimensional, depending upon the details of the equipment and collision condition being analyzed.…”

Section: Performance Standardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

US rail equipment crashworthiness standards

Tyrell

2002

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F:

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In 1999 the US Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued new regulations and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) issued new standards for rail passenger equipment crashworthiness. These new regulations and standards include conventional strength-based requirements for equipment used below 200km/h (125 mile/h), crashenergy management for equipment used above 200km/h (125 mile/h) and dynamic sled testing of occupant seats.

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“…In this study, we simulated this collision using explicit/dynamic finite element analysis (ABAQUS/Explicit). In comparison to other vehicle collision studies that we and others have performed [2][3][4][5][6][7], this study is the first in which the interactions of colliding vehicles have been modeled using detailed FEA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The occupant dynamics is evaluated with a lumped-parameter model to determine the forces and decelerations of the occupants. Comparisons with the results of full-scale testing have shown this approach to be effective in predicting impact test results [3][4][5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Colliding Vehicle Interactions for the Passenger Rail Train-to-Train Impact Test

Stringfellow¹,

Rancatore²,

Llana³

et al. 2004

Joint Rail

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A full-scale train-to-train impact test was performed in which a cab car-led passenger train traveling at 30 mph collided with a standing locomotive-led train. During the test, the lead cab car overrode the cab of the standing locomotive, sustaining approximately 20 feet of crush, while the cab of the locomotive remained essentially intact.In this study, a finite element-based analysis of the collision was performed. The first 0.5 seconds of the collision was simulated. Results of the analysis were compared with accelerometer and video test data. Specific comparisons are made between test data and model predictions for: motions of the cab car and the standing locomotive; longitudinal forces arising between the cab car and the standing locomotive and between the respective lead and trailing vehicles; and the mode of deformation of the cab car and the locomotive.The results of the study indicate that the model captures pertinent features of the first 0.3 seconds of the collision, particularly with respect to longitudinal vehicle motions and collision forces. After 0.3 seconds, agreement between model predictions and test data becomes progressively worse. This is attributable to the model's inability to capture the massive fracture that occurs at the front of the cab car.

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Evaluation of cab car crashworthiness design modifications

Cited by 14 publications

References 0 publications

Rail passenger equipment accidents and the evaluation of crashworthiness strategies

Rail passenger equipment accidents and the evaluation of crashworthiness strategies

US rail equipment crashworthiness standards

Analysis of Colliding Vehicle Interactions for the Passenger Rail Train-to-Train Impact Test

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