Structure realization method for collapse threshold of plastic deformation in train collision condition

Abstract

To protect passengers, absorb enough kinetic energy and meet the special requirements for trains which are different from the other means of transportation, a method is presented to realize the plastic deformation threshold based on three main aspects of train connection structure, crashworthy vehicle structure, energy-absorbing component. In practical engineering, trains need enough strength and stiffness to transfer longitudinal force under the normal operation condition, and have to produce controllable large plastic deformation to absorb energy shortly under the collision condition. To realize the structural damage threshold of connecting structure in terminal end, two control methods are also proposed which can be divided as the parametric method based on ‘extrusion’ and ‘cutting’ theories; the method which can cut the connecting components between coupler-buffer devices and train bodies and separate them away when the damage thresholds of coupler-buffer devices are more than the pre-supposed damage thresholds. The damage thresholds can be realized based on changing the parameters of the number of shearing bolts, material parameters, etc. To realize the collision threshold of energy-absorbing components of trains, a control method is presented based on the ways of setting plastic deformation induced structure, local hole and pre-deformation structure. To realize the threshold of the controllable plastic structure of energy-absorbing vehicles, a control method is proposed for the multi-level longitudinal stiffness of train terminal structures.

Keywords

damage threshold / train crashworthiness / plastic deformation / energy-absorbing structure

References

[1] YAMAKAWA H, OKU T, FUNATSU K, UJITA Y. A study on energy absorbing members for improvement of train crashworthiness [C]// 10th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference. Albany, New York, 2004: 650–655.

[2] GaoG. J., TianH. Q.. Train’s crashworthiness design and collision analysis [J]. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 2007, 12(1): 21-28

[3] DiasJ. P., PereiraM. S.. Analysis and design for train crashworthiness using multibody models [J]. Vehicle System Dynamics, 2004, 40(S): 107-120

[4] KOYAMA T, YAMAKAWA H, FUNATSU K, UJITA Y. Structural optimization for improvement of train crashworthiness [C]// 10th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference. Albany, New York, 2004: 641–649.

[5] TYRELL D, PERLMAN A B. Evaluation of rail passenger equipment crashworthiness strategies [J]. Transportation Research Record, 2003, (1825): 8–14.

[6] CuarteroJ., LizaranzuM.. Evaluation of passenger railroad car roll over crashworthiness [J]. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 2006, 11(5): 419-424

[7] Hosseini-TehraniP., NankaliA.. Study on characteristics of a crashworthy high-speed train nose [J]. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 2010, 15(2): 161-173

[8] KayaN., OztürkF.. Multi-objective crashworthiness design optimisation of thin-walled tubes [J]. International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2010, 52(1/2/3/4): 54-63

[9] DaneshiG. H., HosseinipourS. J.. Grooves effect on crashworthiness characteristics of thin-walled tubes under axial compression [J]. Materials and Design, 2002, 23(7): 611-617

[10] LiuY.. Crashworthiness design of multi-corner thin-walled columns [J]. Thin-Walled Structures, 2008, 46(12): 1329-1337

[11] MamalisA. G., ManolakosD. E., IoannidisM. B., PapapostolouD. P.. Crashworthy characteristics of axially statically compressed thin-walled square CFRP composite tubes: Experimental [J]. Composite Structures, 2004, 63(3/4): 347-360

[12] BambachM. R., JamaH. H., ElchalakaniM.. Static and dynamic axial crushing of spot-welded thin-walled composite steel-CFRP square tubes [J]. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 2009, 36(9): 1083-1094

[13] MamalisA. G., ManolakosD. E., IoannidisM. B.. On the crashworthiness of composite rectangular thin-walled tubes internally reinforced with aluminium or polymeric foams: Experimental and numerical simulation [J]. Composite Structures, 2009, 89(3): 416-423

[14] ShariatiM., AllahbakhshH. R.. An experimental and numerical crashworthiness investigation of crash columns assembled by spot-weld [J]. Mechanika, 2010, 82(2): 21-25

[15] HeK., ZhuW. D.. Modeling of fillets in thin-walled beams using shell/plate and beam finite elements [J]. Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, Transactions of the ASME, 2009, 131(5): 510021-05100216

[16] LiuY.. Design optimisation of tapered thin-walled square tubes [J]. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 2008, 13(5): 543-550

[17] ZhangX. W., SuH., YuT. X.. Energy absorption of an axially crushed square tube with a buckling initiator [J]. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 2009, 36(3): 402-417

[18] ZhangX. W., TianQ. D., YuT. X.. Axial crushing of circular tubes with buckling initiators [J]. Thin-Walled Structures, 2009, 47(6/7): 788-797

[19] MamalisA. G., ManolakosD. E., SpentzasK. N., IoannidisM. B., KoutroubakisS., KostazosP. K.. The effect of the implementation of circular holes as crush initiators to the crushing characteristics of mild steel square tubes: Experimental and numerical simulation [J]. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 2009, 14(5): 489-501

[20] BodlaniS. B., Chung Kim YuenS., NurickG. N.. The energy absorption characteristics of square mild steel tubes with multiple induced circular hole discontinuities-part I: Experiments [J]. Journal of Applied Mechanics, Transactions ASME, 2009, 76(4): 1-11

[21] JungS. N., KimC. J., KoJ. H., KimC. W.. Theory of thin-walled, pretwisted composite beams with elastic couplings [J]. Advanced Composite Materials, 2009, 18(2): 105-119

[22] TianH. Qi.. Crashworthy energy absorbing car-body design method for passenger train [J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2001, 1(1): 110-114