Preparations for a train-to-train impact test of crash-energy management passenger rail equipment

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Proceedings of the 2005 Joint Rail Conference
• Creators:
  Jeong, David ; Jacobsen, Karina ; Parent, Daniel ; Perlman, A. Benjamin
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.) ; Tufts University
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Prototype tests
  • Collisions
  • Cabs (Vehicle compartments)
  • Crashworthiness
  • Impact tests
  • Load tests
  • Compression tests
  • Passenger cars
  • Commuter cars
  • Locomotives
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  RTD2005-70045
• Resource Type:
  Proceedings
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  American Society of Mechanical Engineers ; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Abstract:
  Preparations are ongoing for a full-scale train-to-train ; impact test of crash-energy management (CEM) equipment, ; during which a cab car-led passenger consist, initially moving ; at 30 mph, will impact a standing locomotive-led consist. The ; colliding consists will be of approximately equal masses. This ; test is planned for November 2005. ; The purpose of the full-scale testing program is to define ; the crashworthiness performance of conventional and CEM ; passenger equipment. In the train-to-train test of conventional ; equipment, the lead cab car crushed by nearly 22 feet and ; overrode the standing locomotive. In the train-to-train test of ; CEM equipment, the leading end of the impacting cab car is ; expected to crush by approximately 3 feet and distribute crush ; to the successive car interfaces. The consist is expected to ; remain in-line, with no lateral buckling and override modes of ; deformation. ; This paper describes the steps being taken to develop a ; CEM cab car crush zone design, based upon the recently ; developed and tested coach car crush zone design. The ; components required for an effective CEM cab car design ; include a push-back coupler, energy absorbing elements, a ; crushable anti-climber to manage the interaction with the ; locomotive, and a cage for preserving the operator's space. ; Preliminary predictions of the dynamic response of the two ; consists include the distribution of crush among the cars in the ; train and the decelerations of the cars. These predictions are ; compared with the measurements made during the conventional ; train-to-train test. ; While the CEM design preserves occupant volume, the ; secondary impact velocities in the lead cab car and the first ; coach car may be more severe. Five occupant experiments will ; be included on the cab car and first coach car of the full-scale ; train-to-train impact test to ensure that the occupants are ; protected during the collision. These occupant experiments ; will include modified versions of forward-facing intercity seats, ; forward- and rear-facing commuter seats, and facing commuter ; seats with intervening workstation tables.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9854/dot_9854_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 941.51 KB]
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center ; Federal Railroad Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a1d6f16cd2cb368e06a7216fa6bc349152ed5184795567d3c4a5aaace3a4da4a2aa10af09fb3cee9aa6b3c73fde6ef62051d1d14199cd76aae3de41951e377ad