ICrash 2004, international crashworthiness conference

AGR-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITY ; NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail Safety ; NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITY ;

The Volpe Center is supporting the Federal Railroad Administration in performing rail passenger equipment crashworthiness research. The overall objective of this research is to develop strategies for improving structural crashworthiness and occupant protection. A field study of passenger train accidents is being conducted to investigate the causal mechanisms of how train occupants are injured during accidents. The investigation of the April 23, 2002 collision in Placentia, CA has motivated the development of occupant protection strategies. This process began with two simulation models: a collision dynamics model and an occupant response model. These simulations suggested that impact with workstation tables brought about fatal thoracic and abdominal injuries in two occupants. Workstation tables that limit and distribute the abdominal loads are currently under investigation through modeling and full-scale testing with advanced anthropomorphic test devices.

Volpe
Federal Railroad Administration