Full-Scale Tank Car Rollover Tests – Survivability of Top Fittings and Top Fittings Protective Structures

Full-scale rollover crash tests were performed on three non-pressure tank carbodies to validate previous analytical work and determine the effectiveness of two different types of protective structures in protecting the top fittings. The tests were performed with three different tank cars: 1) an unprotected base case car, 2) a base case car with an added protective skid weldment, and 3) a base car with an added protective bolt-on sleeve on the unloading nozzle with a reinforcing cone. Test conditions such as the impacting speed and angle were controlled by pivoting the carbodies in a fixture about a fixed axis and the fittings (or protective structures) impacted a concrete target pad. Before each test, proper test conditions and parameters were determined by Dynamic Finite Element analysis. These tests establish that the skid and bolt-on sleeve concepts are efficient and practical methods for protecting top fittings on non-pressure cars from failure (and lading release) during rollover derailments. The demonstrated concepts can be developed into application-specific designs by tank car builders and implemented on tank cars as appropriate.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L17462
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Sharma and Associates, Incorporated

  5810 S Grant Street
  Hinsdale, IL  United States  60521

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research, Development, and Technology
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Trent, Robert
  • Prabhakaran, Anand
  • Brabb, David
  • Sharma, Vinaya
• Publication Date: 2016-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 59p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Derailments; Finite element method; Fittings; Rollover crashes; Tank cars; Vehicle design; Weldments
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01599867
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-16/12
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 23 2016 9:48AM