Details:

Alternative Title:
Proceedings of the 1st Rail Transportation Division Fall Technical Conference
Creators:
Tyrell, David ; Jacobsen, Karina ; Talamini, Brandon ; Carolan, Michael E.
Tyrell, David ; Jacobsen, Karina ; Talamini, Brandon ; Carolan, Michael E. Less -
Corporate Creators:
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Energy Absorption Hazardous Materials Impact Tests Railroad Accidents Railroad Safety Structural Analysis Tank Cars
Publication/ Report Number:
RTDF2007-46015
Resource Type:
Proceedings
Geographical Coverage:
United States
Corporate Publisher:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
NTL Classification:
NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-RAIL TRANSPORTATION;NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail Safety;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Rail Safety;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Vehicle Design;
Abstract:
Accidents that lead to rupture of tank cars carrying

hazardous materials can cause serious public safety hazards and

substantial economic losses. The desirability of improved tank

car designs that are better equipped to keep the commodity

contained during impacts is clear. This paper describes a

framework for developing strategies to maintain the structural

integrity of tank cars during accidents.

The target of this effort is to design a tank car capable of

surviving impacts without loss of lading at twice the impact

speed of current equipment (or, equivalently, is capable of

absorbing four times the impact energy). The methodology

developed breaks down the process into three steps:

1. Define the impact scenarios of concern

2. Choose strategies to mitigate failure modes

present in each scenario

3. Design and select technology and tactics to

implement the mitigation strategies

The railroad accidents involving tank cars that occurred in

Minot, ND, in 2002, and Graniteville, SC, in 2005, are

examined to define the impact scenarios. Analysis of these

accidents shows that two car-to-car impact scenarios are of

greatest concern: head impact, where railroad equipment

impacts the end of a tank car and possibly overrides it, and

shell impact, where the tank car is impacted on its side,

possibly off center.

A conceptual design that can protect its lading at twice the

impact speed of current equipment in the car-to-car impact

scenarios is being developed. The conceptual design includes

four functions to meet the impact requirements: blunts the

impact loads, absorbs collision energy, strengthens the tank,

and controls the load path to assure that loads are blunted and

that energy is absorbed before the tank is loaded.


Format:
PDF
Collection(s):
Volpe
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:59537859daac0059b9c56326c6b04119831c5038690c323c8e05e4782243037b
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9906/dot_9906_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• No Additional Files

More +