Details:

Creators:
Tyrell, David ; Jacobsen, Karina ; Perlman, A. Benjamin
Tyrell, David ; Jacobsen, Karina ; Perlman, A. Benjamin Less -
Corporate Creators:
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.) ; Tufts University
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.) ; Tufts University Less -
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
NTL Classification:
NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-RAIL TRANSPORTATION
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
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:e24edfcbc3fa9e2ff0ca4b687d93587af0f0d12159b5f19c4ae8480dca641191
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9508/dot_9508_DS1.pdf
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