Author: Robert A. Galganski

Date of Publication:  October 1992

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. Department of Transportation - Research and Special Programs Administration, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Performing Organization:  Arthur D. Little, Calspan Corporation

Report No:

Abstract:

This report is the third of four volumes concerned with developing safety guidelines and specifications for high speed guided ground transportation (MSGGT) collision avoidance and accident survivability. The overall approach taken in this study is to first formulate collision scenarios to which and MSGGT system may be exposed. Then existing U.S. and foreign rules, regulations, standards and practices concerned with either preventing the occurrence of a collision or mitigating the consequences of a collision are review, together with pertinent practices from other forms of transportation, leading to the formulation of guidelines and specifications for collision avoidance and accident survivability.

The volume provides a detailed discussion of survivability of MSGGT vehicles and trains. An opening chapter describes the basic mechanics of collision between vehicles, including the two primary causes of vehicle occupant casualties, of occupant space through crushing and penetration, and impacts between occupants and vehicle interiors. Further chapters describe measures of human tolerance of impacts and injury criteria, methods of assessing transportation vehicle collision performance and crashworthiness regulations and practices applicable to transportation vehicles of all types. The volume concludes with recommendations and guidelines for crashworthiness design and evaluation of MSGGT vehicles and trains to be operated in the United States.
 
 

No. of Pages:  149