NTL Record

Title Analysis of accelerations measured during full-scale tank car impact tests
Record ID 34516
Personal Name
Creator
Lyons, Matthew L; Riddell, William T; Koch, Kevin W
Source 98p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration; John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
Publication Date 20070400
Language English
Abstract Tank car impact responses were investigated using accelerometers mounted at various locations on a tank car. Several tests were run with both a full and an empty tank car, and varying the tank car impact speed. The data from the accelerometers went through a power spectral density (PSD) analysis for the longitudinal and vertical directions. The results from PSD analyses were compared with the peak coupler force and the dominant draft gear mechanism, also obtained from the data. The results showed that the dominant draft gear mechanism had a marked effect on the response of the tank car, and, as speed and energy increased, the draft gear mechanism changed. For the empty tank car impact test results, in longitudinal acceleration signals, a frequency of 0 Hz and a range of frequencies above 300 Hz were present in PSD analyses; in vertical acceleration signals, a frequency of 13 Hz was present in PSD analyses, coinciding with the first axial mode of a simply supported cylinder. For the full tank car impact test results, in the vertical acceleration signals, two distinct peaks, at 5 Hz and 26 Hz, were present.
Rosap ID dot:8852
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8852
TRT Terms Mechanical acceleration; Accelerometers; Gears; Impact tests; Power spectra; Railroad cars; Railroad traffic; Railroad trains; Railroad transportation; Shock resistance; Tank cars
Classification NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Safety;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Rail Safety;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Vehicle Design;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Accidents
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
1055628
Contract Number RR28/DB034
Report Number DOT/FRA/ORD-07/08; DOT VNTSC-FRA-07-03
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/34000/34500/34516/DOT-VNTSC-FRA-07-03.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository