Passenger Cab Car Grade Crossing Impact Test Report: Rail Passenger Equipment Impact Tests

Two full-scale oblique grade crossing impact tests were conducted in June 2002 to compare the crashworthiness performance of alternative corner post designs on rail passenger cab cars. On June 4, 2002, a cab car fitted with an end frame built to pre-1999 requirements impacted a steel coil at approximately 14 mph (22.5 km/h). Following on June 7, 2002, a cab car fitted with an end frame built to current requirements also impacted a steel coil at approximately 14 mph (22.5 km/h). The tests were conducted in response to a recommendation from the American Public Transportation Association’s Passenger Rail Equipment Safety Standards Committee to measure the crashworthiness performance of alternative cab car end frame designs. During the test of the 1990s design, the corner post failed, eliminating the survival space for the operator. During the test of the state-of-the-art (SOA) design cab car, the corner post remained attached and deformed less than 9 in (228 mm), preserving space for the operator. The crush of the cars was analyzed using detailed finite element models. The impact end of each car was modeled, including approximately one quarter of the length of the car. The back end of the cab car model was fixed, and its end structure was impacted by an initially moving cylinder with the same mass and dimensions as the steel coil used in the tests. The results from the full-scale grade crossing impact tests validated the preliminary results of the three-dimensional lumped parameter computer model of the collision dynamics.

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• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8856
• Corporate Authors:

  Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Tyrell, David
  • Martinez, Eloy
  • Jacobsen, Karina
  • Perlman, Benjamin
• Publication Date: 2007-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Glossary; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 72p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crashworthiness; Finite element method; Impact tests; Railroad facilities; Railroad grade crossings; Railroad safety; Railroad transportation; State of the art
• Uncontrolled Terms: Railroad cab cars
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01095650
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-07/24, DOT-VNTSC-FRA-08-01
• Contract Numbers: RR28/EB035
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 29 2008 2:20PM