Crash Energy Management The purpose of this project is to develop design data to improve the crashworthiness of passenger vehicles. A series of analyses and tests, involving different collision scenarios, are used to verify computer models and evaluate the possible changes of cab and car structures to improve the safety of crew and passengers. Several design concepts of crash energy management (CEM) have been evaluated. The chosen design causes the collision energy to be absorbed by a series of components with known structural characteristics. The application of CEM to passenger rail equipment has been demonstrated in the full-scale train-to-train impact test between a CEM equipped cab car led passenger consist with a locomotive led consist of equal weight. The objectives of the test were to demonstrate the effectiveness of the CEM equipment in preserving a safe volume, while keeping the equipment in-line and on the track.

Passenger Locomotive Crush Zone Design

The objective of this effort is an engineering model design of a passenger locomotive end structure that will crush in a controlled manner during an impact. The end structure shall include a coupling system that allows the ends of coupled equipment to meet before lateral buckling or override occurs, and shall also incorporate structural elements that absorb collision energy.

Collision Dynamics of CEM Equipment in Oblique Collision

The objective of this task is to determine the limits of impacting CEM equipment traversing a switch. Several train-to-train collisions have occurred at track switch locations.

Development of In-train Forces in Passenger Operations

There is a significant need for the development of typical in-line train forces during regular train operations to provide fatigue loading spectra for different train make-ups, especially those that incorporate CEM technology.

Glazing System Performance Study

FRA, in conjunction with key industry stakeholders, has conducted significant testing of glazing systems to refine standards for three impact conditions of interest: ballistic impacts, large object impacts, and small object impacts. There is a pressing need to revisit and revise the current glazing federal requirements to a set of simple standards that provide repeatable results that can be easily analyzed . 

• Railroad Vehicle Glazing Standard Development
• Passenger Locomotive Crashworthiness
• Passenger Rail Equipment Collision Safety:  Structural Crashworthiness

Completed Projects:

• Rail Vehicle Car Cab Collision and Corner Post Designs According to APTA S-034 Requirements 
• Crashworthiness Design Modifications for Locomotive and Cab Car Anticlimbing
• The Development of a Rail Passenger Coach Car Crush Zone
• Rail-Car Impact Tests with Steel Coil:  Car Crush
• Analysis of Collision Safety Associated with Conventional and Crash Energy Management Cars Mixed Within a Consist
• Collision Safety Comparison of Conventional and Crash Energy Management Passenger Rail Car Designs
• Development of a Rail Passenger Coach Car Crush-Zone
• Evaluation of Selected Crashworthiness Strategies for Passenger Trains
• Crashworthiness of Passenger Trains
• Development of a Passenger Rail Vehicle Crush Zone
• Investigation and Simulation of Lateral Buckling in Trains
• Static and Dynamic Crush Testing and Analysis of a Rail Vehicle Corner Structural Element
• Rail Passenger Equipment Collision Tests:  Analysis of Structural Measurements
• Rail Passenger Equipment Accidents and the Evaluation of Crashworthiness Strategies
• An Overview of Passenger Equipment Full-scale Impact Tests:  Results to Date
• Two-Car Impact Test of Crash energy Management Passenger Rail Cars:  Analysis of Occupant Protection Measurements
• Development of Crash Energy Management Designs for Existing Passenger Rail Vehicles
• Impact Test of a Crash-Energy Management Passenger Rail Car
• Impact Tests of Crash Energy Management Passenger Rail Cars:  Analysis and Structural Measurements
• Preparations for a Train-to-Train Impact Test of Crash-Energy Management Passenger Rail Equipment
• Review of Severe Deformation Recommended Practice Through Analyses - Comparison of Two Cab Car end Frame Designs
• A Crush Zone Design for an Existing Passenger Rail Cab Car
• Improved Crashworthiness of Rail Passenger Equipment in the United States
• Overview of a Crash Energy Management Specification for Passenger Rail Equipment
• A Train-to-Train Impact Test of Crash Energy Management Passenger Rail Equipment
• Effectiveness of Alternative Rail Passenger Equipment Crashworthiness Strategies
• Passenger Cab Car Grade Crossing Impact Test Report
• Detailed Modeling of the Train-to-Train Impact Test:  Rail Passenger Equipment Impact Tests
• Crash Energy Manaagement Crush Zone Designs:  Features, Functions and Forms
• Repair of Budd Pioneer Coach Car Crush Zones
• Performance Efficiency of a Crash Energy Management System
• A Crash Energy Management Specification for Passenger Rail Equipment
• The Influence of Train Type, Car Weight, and Train Length on Passenger Train Crashworthiness