United States Department of Transportation
i
Full scale tank car coupler impact tests
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2003-11-15
[PDF-438.66 KB]
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Alternative Title:Proceedings of 2003 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and RD&D Expo
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NTL Classification:AGR-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITY;NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail Safety;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Rail Safety;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITY;
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Abstract:Full scale tests were performed to investigate various
aspects of tank car behavior during coupler impacts. A tank car
was equipped with 37 accelerometers and an instrumented
coupler. Two series of full scale coupler impact tests,
comprising 26 impacts, are discussed. In the first series, the
tank car was empty. In the second series, the tank car was full.
A range of impact speeds was investigated. Accelerometer
response and coupler force were measured for each test.
Aspects of the tank car response to coupler impacts can be
determined by studying the coupler force versus time
relationship, Shock Response Spectrum (SRS), and Power
Spectral Density (PSD) analyses of accelerations measured on
the tank car body. The dominant draft gear load transfer
mechanism can be determined from the coupler force vs. time
relationship. Accelerations were measured at many locations
on the tank car. However, based on preliminary analyses, a
single location near the manway was chosen for detailed study.
SRS results of accelerations at this location show good
correlation with the peak coupler force, although different
relationships were observed when the car was empty than when
it was full. PSD analyses of empty tank cars have peaks at
different frequencies than PSD analyses of full tank cars, so a
PSD analysis could be used to determine whether a car is
empty or full. Therefore, the combination of SRS and PSD
results suggests the possibility of estimating peak coupler
forces resulting from yard impacts based on SRS and PSD
analyses of accelerations measured at a single location on a
tank car.
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