United States Department of Transportation
i
Collision dynamics modeling of crash energy management passenger rail equipment : a thesis submitted by Karina M. Jacobsen
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2008-01-31
[PDF-5.57 MB]
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Alternative Title:Collision dynamics modeling of crash energy management passenger rail equipment
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Abstract:Crash Energy Management (CEM) is a crashworthiness strategy that
incorporates crush zones into the design of passenger railcars. In the event of a
collision, crush zones are engineered to collapse in a controlled manner and
distribute crush to unoccupied areas throughout a train. This approach manages
dissipation of the collision energy more effectively and efficiently than conventional
railcar designs.
A train-to-train collision scenario is the basis for evaluation of crashworthiness
in passenger railcars. This thesis uses a three-dimensional model of a CEM
passenger train to simulate train collisions. The model is evolved in three stages: a
single car model, a two-car model, and a train-to-train model. The key features
include crush zones at both ends of the passenger railcars with a pushback coupler,
suspension characteristics between the trucks and car body, and derailment
characteristics to approximate the wheel-to-rail interaction. The results of each
model are compared and validated with data from full-scale impact tests conducted
for CEM passenger rail equipment.
The three-dimensional collision dynamics model developed for this thesis serves
two roles: to explain the events of a CEM train-to-train test and to develop a tool
for evaluating other collision conditions and equipment variations. The first role is
accomplished and demonstrated through comparison of results with a full-scale test.
The second role is accomplished through the documentation and demonstration of
the features needed to assess other conditions and demands on CEM. The future
uses of the model include investigation of new designs of CEM equipment and evaluation of crashworthiness performance in more complex collision conditions
such as oblique impacts and grade crossing collisions.
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