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Analyses of Full-Scale Tank Car Shell Impact Tests

This paper describes analyses of a railroad tank car impacted at its side by a ram car with a rigid punch. This generalized collision, referred to as a shell impact, is examined using nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) and threedimensional (3-D) collision dynamics modeling. Moreover, the...

Equations of Motion for Train Derailment Dynamics

This paper describes a planar or two-dimensional model to examine the gross motions of rail cars in a generalized train derailment. Three coupled, second-order differential equations are derived from Newton’s Laws to calculate rigid-body car motions with time. Car motions are defined with...

Engineering Analysis for Railroad Tank Car Head Puncture Resistance

This paper describes engineering analyses to estimate the forces, deformations, and puncture resistance of railroad tank cars. Different approaches to examine puncture of the tank car head are described. One approach is semi-empirical equations to estimate the velocity at which puncture is...

Metrics and Standards for Intercity Passenger Rail Service

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