Train-to-Train Impact Test of Crash-Energy Management Passenger Rail Equipment: Structural Results

Details

• Creators:
  Jeong, David ; Jacobsen, Karina ; Perlman, A. Benjamin
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.) ; Tufts University
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Cabs (Vehicle Compartments) Collisions Commuter Cars Compression Tests Crashworthiness Impact Tests Load Tests Locomotives Passenger Cars Prototype Tests
• Publication/ Report Number:
  IMECE2006-13597
• Resource Type:
  Proceedings
• Corporate Publisher:
  American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Abstract:
  On March 23, 2006, a full-scale test was conducted on a
  
  passenger rail train retrofitted with newly developed cab end
  
  and non-cab end crush zone designs. This test was conducted
  
  as part of a larger testing program to establish the degree of
  
  enhanced performance of alternative design strategies for
  
  passenger rail crashworthiness. The alternative design strategy
  
  is referred to as crash energy management (CEM), where the
  
  collision energy is absorbed in defined unoccupied locations
  
  throughout the train in a controlled progressive manner. By
  
  controlling the deformations at critical locations the CEM train
  
  is able to protect against two dangerous modes of deformation:
  
  override and large-scale lateral buckling.
  
  The CEM train impacted a standing locomotive-led train of
  
  equal mass at 31 mph on tangent track. The interactions at the
  
  colliding interface and between coupled interfaces performed
  
  as expected. Crush was pushed back to subsequent crush zones
  
  and the moving passenger train remained in-line and upright on
  
  the tracks with minimal vertical and lateral motions.
  
  The added complexity associated with this test over
  
  previous full-scale tests of the CEM design was the need to
  
  control the interactions at the colliding interface between the
  
  two very different engaging geometries. The cab end crush
  
  zone performed as intended because the locomotive coupler
  
  pushed underneath the cab car buffer beam, and the deformable
  
  anti-climber engaged the uneven geometry of the locomotive
  
  anti-climber and short hood. Space was preserved for the
  
  operator as the cab end crush zone collapsed.
  
  The coupled interfaces performed as predicted by the
  
  analysis and previous testing. The conventional interlocking
  
  anti-climbers engaged after the pushback couplers triggered
  
  and absorbed the prescribed amount of energy. Load was
  
  transferred through the integrated end frame, and progressive
  
  controlled collapsed was contained to the energy absorbers at
  
  the roof and floor level. The results of this full-scale test have
  
  clearly demonstrated the significant enhancement in safety for
  
  passengers and crew members involved in a push mode
  
  collision with a standing locomotive train.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:159c6bb7717b302074b6a4bc6635c111d67e09be6d3ab3588230479b788335b35b3f5023f720440d1b0260fd7b49c9782d9a62f6051e17aa7af6352884e95d03
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9508/dot_9508_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.05 MB ]