Energy absorption requirement for crashworthy vehicles

Abstract

A study of the design energy requirements for crashworthy vehicles has been carried out. Linear model analysis has proved very useful in understanding the collision behaviour of two trains, particular ly the interaction between the vehicles. It was found that the coupler elements provide isolation to the vehicles and reduce the inuence of subsequent vehicles on the impact of preceding vehicles. Calculation formulae for the energy absorption requirement for both leading and intermediate ends are presented. These have been derived from simulation results of ve projects and would be applicable to all rail vehicles in collisions. It is recommended that a collision between two rakes of three or four vehicles would be sufcient to represent the behaviour of longer rakes. It is believed that this study contributes towards a better understanding of energy absorption in a rail collision.