Author: M.J. Reilly, J. Shefrin, L.M. Patrick

Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research and Development

Performing Organization: Boeing Vertol Co.

Date of Publication:  July 1978

Report No:  FRA/ORD-77/33, II

Abstract:

The Department of Transportation, Transportation Systems Center (TSC), is providing technical assistance to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in a program to improve railroad safety and efficiency by providing a technological basis for improvement and possible regulation in rail vehicle crashworthiness, inspection and surveillance of equipment, and other areas. As part of this program, TSC is conducting technical analyses of passenger railcar collisions, derailments, and other accidents, directed towards minimizing occupant injuries.

This Design Guide, the second of four volumes, has been prepared to assist design engineers in understanding the basic problems associated with the development of crashworthy interiors of locomotives, cabooses and passenger railcars. Rail vehicle accident conditions are presented with the resulting interactions that can occur between one car and another. Types of injuries to the occupants of the cars, and the mechanism causing the injury, are discussed. Volume I reports on the collection of data for a representative accident sample. Volume III proposes engineering standards in the format of the Code of Federal Regulations (Title 49, Transportation, Parts 200). Volume IV is an  Executive Summary.
 

No. of Pages:   99