Accidents that lead to rupture of tank cars carrying hazardous materials can cause serious public safety hazards and substantial economic losses. The desirability of improved tank car designs that are better equipped to keep the commodity contained during impacts is clear. This paper describes a framework for developing strategies to maintain the structural integrity of tank cars during accidents. The target of this effort is to design a tank car capable of surviving impacts without loss of lading at twice the impact speed of current equipment. The methodology developed breaks down the process into three steps. Define the impact scenarios of concern, choose strategies to mitigate failure modes present in each scenario and design and select technology and tactics to implement the mitigation strategies. Railroad accidents involving tank cars are examined to define the impact scenarios. Analysis of these accidents shows that two car-to-car impact scenarios are of greatest concern. Head impact, where railroad equipment impacts the end of a tank car and possibly overrides it, and shell impact, where the tank car is impacted on its side, possibly off center. A conceptual design that can protect its lading at twice the impact speed of current equipment in the car-to-car impact scenarios is being developed. Preliminary studies of available weight and space, strategies for increasing energy absorption, and strategies for strengthening the head and shell are ongoing.
Developing strategies for maintaining tank car integrity during train accidents
2007
10 Seiten, 20 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 17 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
RTDF2007-46015 Developing Strategies for Maintaining Tank Car Integrity During Train Accidents
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