COUPLERS AND TRUCK SECUREMENT. PHASE 10 REPORT

Phase 10 of the RPI-AAR Tank Car Safety Project was established to study the influence on tank car behavior in accidents of all non-tank components of a tank car. Of these components, couplers and trucks were later selected as the only significant items for study. The influence of couplers on tank car accidents was evidenced by the accident data collected for the years 1965 through 1970. During this 6 year period, 173 tank cars incurred head punctures, and of these, 148 were known to have been caused by couplers on adjacent cars. The data also showed that truck components, particularly wheels, often punctured tank car shells. Finally, of interest was the influence on the severiry of derailments (i.e. number of cars derailed and degree of jackknifing) of various coupler deisgns and the concept of truck securement. The purpose of this report is to review and discuss the results of the studies and to draw conclusions regarding functional efficiencies of current and modified coupler and truck designs toward improving tank car safety in accidents.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • An RPI-AAR cooperative program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads Research Center

  3140 South Federal Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60616
• Authors:
  • Sims, R D
• Publication Date: 1973-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 35 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Car trucks (Railroads); Couplers; Crash investigation; Failure; Jackknifing; Tank cars; Trucks; Vehicle design; Wheels
• Old TRIS Terms: Tank car safety research and test project
• Subject Areas: Design; Motor Carriers; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080337
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads Research Center
• Report/Paper Numbers: RA-10-2-19(R-142) Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 11 1976 12:00AM