A METHOD OF FIELD TESTING AND DATA REDUCTION TO DETERMINE FORCES ACTING ON A FREIGHT CAR IN REVENUE SERVICE

This paper describes a method of conducting road service tests using an instrumented freight car capable of traveling anonymously and unattended in revenue trains. The data collected in the tests described were coupler longitudinal and vertical forces. A magnetic tape recorder located inside the car recorded the data digitally. The recorder was actuated only when the force levels were above a preset level, thus allowing very long-term testing. An elapsed time meter recording on one channel of the tape allowed correlated of the recorded data with the milepost location of the test car. The testing procedure and computer reduction of the field test data are described.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contributed by the Rail Transportation Division of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers for presentation at the Winter Annual Meeting, New York, N.Y., December 5, 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Mechanical Engineers

  Two Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5990
• Authors:
  • Morella, N A
  • Cook, R M
• Publication Date: 1976-12-5

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Couplers; Data collection; Design; Freight cars; Information processing; Instrumentation; Measuring instruments; Service life; Test vehicles; Testing
• Old TRIS Terms: Freight car component performance; Test cars
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00145144
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: 76/WA/RT-9 Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 1 1977 12:00AM