Equivalence study involving rail vehicle collision test conditions

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part F, Journal of rail and rapid transit Journal of rail and rapid transit, 2019-01, Vol.233 (1), p.73-89
• Main Authors: Yao, Shuguang, Yan, Kaibo, Lu, Sisi, Xu, Ping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Automobiles; Automotive bodies; Collision dynamics; Collisions; Computer simulation; Crashes; Dynamic models; Equivalence; Impact strength; Materials handling; Model testing; Multibody systems; Rigid structures; Rigid walls; Similarity theory; Three dimensional models; Vehicles
• ISSN: 0954-4097; 2041-3017
• DOI: 10.1177/0954409718779940

In the context of rail vehicle collision tests, which incur high costs and consume substantial time and energy, the equivalence between a single vehicle crashing into a rigid wall and two identical vehicles colliding with each other was studied. Taking the car body as a rigid body, a three-dimensional multi-body dynamic model was built to simulate a single-vehicle impact and a collision between two identical vehicles; the results showed that the condition of a single vehicle crashing into a rigid wall at a speed of v / 2 can be used to replace the condition of one vehicle moving at a speed of v and crashing into an identical vehicle that is stationary. However, the actual collision is a strong nonlinear process, and it is necessary to conduct the equivalent test of the condition of collision. Based on the similarity theory, the scaled equivalent vehicle model is established. Through a series of scaled model tests, the following conclusion is drawn: if one vehicle moving at a speed of vcrashes into another identical vehicle that is stationary, one can equivalently use a single vehicle with a speed of v ' = 0 . 5248 v + 0 . 1608 (units: m/s) that crashes into a rigid wall. This study provides practical support for the equivalence of vehicle collision test conditions and holds great value for engineering applications.