Rail Equipment Crashworthiness Research
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Preparations for a Train-to-train Impact Test of Crash-Energy Management Passenger Rail Equipment
This video shows animations from simulations of three different loading conditions conducted before the Crash Energy Management (CEM) train-to-train full-scale test. The first simulation depicts the ideal loading case, where the load is shared by the pushback coupler and the deformable anti-climber. In the animation, a locomotive approaches the cab car from the right. The first point of impact is between the couplers of the locomotive and the cab car. As the pushback coupler slides back and crushes the honeycomb energy absorber, the deformable anti-climber contacts the locomotive and begins to deform. The pushback coupler and deformable anti-climber are exhausted at roughly the same time, at which point the sliding sill is triggered and begins to crush the primary energy absorbers. The simulation ends when the primary energy absorbers are completely crushed.
The second simulation depicts one possible non-ideal loading case, where the load is transferred entirely through the deformable anti-climber. In this animation, the locomotive again approaches the cab car from the right. The couplers do not contact each other, and the locomotive continues at the same speed until it impacts the deformable anti-climbers on the front of the cab car. Once the deformable anti-climber is exhausted, the sliding sill is triggered and the primary energy absorbers begin to crush. The simulation ends when the primary energy absorbers are exhausted.
The second simulation depicts another possible non-ideal loading case, where the cab car is offset by six inches vertically downward and six inches laterally to the left. The load is again shared between the pushback coupler and the deformable anti-climber. In this animation, the locomotive again approaches the cab car from the right. The first point of impact is between the couplers of the locomotive and the cab car. Though the couplers are noticeably offset, the pushback coupler still triggers correctly and begins pushing back and crushing the honeycomb energy absorber. At roughly the same time as the locomotive impacts the deformable anti-climber, the coupler of the locomotive impacts the coupler carrier, which causes the sliding sill to begin to crush the primary energy absorbers before the pushback coupler is exhausted. The simulation ends when the primary energy absorbers are completely crushed.
View analysis and test video:
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