Details:

Alternative Title:
Evaluation of occupant volume strength in conventional passenger railroad equipment
Creators:
Carolan, Michael E.
Corporate Creators:
Tufts University
Contributors:
Perlman, A. B.
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Collisions Compression Tests Finite Element Method Load Factor Design Load Tests Materials--Compression Tests Occupant Protection Devices Passenger Cars Railroad Accidents Railroad Cars Railroad Passenger Cars Structural Analysis Structural Analysis (Engineering)
Resource Type:
Thesis
Geographical Coverage:
United States
Corporate Publisher:
Tufts University
Abstract:
To ensure a level of occupant volume protection, passenger railway

equipment operating on mainline railroads in the United States must currently be

designed to resist an 800,000 pound compressive load applied statically to the

underframe. An alternative manner of evaluating the strength of the occupied

volume is sought that will ensure the same level of protection for occupants of the

equipment as the current test but will allow for a greater variety of equipment to

be evaluated.

A finite element (FE) model of the structural components of the railcar has

been applied to examine the existing compressive strength test and evaluate

selected alternate testing scenarios. Using simplified geometry and material

properties in the model, the gross behaviors of the railcar are captured without

excessive processing time. This simplified modeling technique was used to

construct FE models of a generic single-level railcar and an exemplar multilevel

railcar.

Both models can be interpreted to have some single beam-like behaviors.

In each model, the existing compressive load results in a significant bending

moment as well as the prescribed compressive load. The alternative load cases

examined demonstrate that a larger total compressive force may be distributed

across the end structure of the railcar and result in similar stress levels throughout

the structural frame as are observed from application of the conventional proof

load.


Format:
PDF
Collection(s):
Volpe
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:20c86d7ab44ae834c8d5cf520e698717e59a2efbbaca2e85300c8bc3413c38ba
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10034/dot_10034_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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