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            In This Section
        Current Projects
                Advanced Components
                                Overview
                Advanced Tri-Coupler
                Conventional Equipment Projects
                Crash Energy Management Projects
                Damage Assessment and Improved Inspection Systems
                On-Board Monitoring and Control System (OBMCS)
                Remote-Controlled Angle Cock
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                Wireless Processing Unit
                Advanced Devices Train & Test Bed (ADT&TB)
                Automated Cracked Wheel Detection
                Effects of Temperature on Wheel Shelling
                Electrically Driven Hand Brake (EDHB)
                High Speed Passenger Trucks Study
                Improved Truck Castings
                Train Energy and Dynamics Simulator (TEDS)
                Wayside Advanced Technology Systems (WATS)
                Wireless Sensor Network Standards for Real-Time Railcar Monitoring and Alerting
                
                Crash Energy Management Projects
    

    
    
          Crash Energy Management The purpose of this project is to develop design data to improve the crashworthiness of passenger vehicles. A series of analyses and tests, involving different collision scenarios, are used to verify computer models and evaluate the possible changes of cab and car structures to improve the safety of crew and passengers. Several design concepts of crash energy management (CEM) have been evaluated. The chosen design causes the collision energy to be absorbed by a series of components with known structural characteristics. The application of CEM to passenger rail equipment has been demonstrated in the full-scale train-to-train impact test between a CEM equipped cab car led passenger consist with a locomotive led consist of equal weight. The objectives of the test were to demonstrate the effectiveness of the CEM equipment in preserving a safe volume, while keeping the equipment in-line and on the track.

Passenger Locomotive Crush Zone Design

The objective of this effort is an engineering model design of a passenger locomotive end structure that will crush in a controlled manner during an impact. The end structure shall include a coupling system that allows the ends of coupled equipment to meet before lateral buckling or override occurs, and shall also incorporate structural elements that absorb collision energy.

Collision Dynamics of CEM Equipment in Oblique Collision

The objective of this task is to determine the limits of impacting CEM equipment traversing a switch. Several train-to-train collisions have occurred at track switch locations.

Development of In-train Forces in Passenger Operations

There is a significant need for the development of typical in-line train forces during regular train operations to provide fatigue loading spectra for different train make-ups, especially those that incorporate CEM technology.

Glazing System Performance Study

FRA, in conjunction with key industry stakeholders, has conducted significant testing of glazing systems to refine standards for three impact conditions of interest: ballistic impacts, large object impacts, and small object impacts. There is a pressing need to revisit and revise the current glazing federal requirements to a set of simple standards that provide repeatable results that can be easily analyzed .

Railroad Vehicle Glazing Standard Development
	Passenger Locomotive Crashworthiness
	Passenger Rail Equipment Collision Safety:  Structural CrashworthinessCompleted Projects:

Rail Vehicle Car Cab Collision and Corner Post Designs According to APTA S-034 Requirements
	Crashworthiness Design Modifications for Locomotive and Cab Car Anticlimbing
	The Development of a Rail Passenger Coach Car Crush Zone
	Rail-Car Impact Tests with Steel Coil:  Car Crush
	Analysis of Collision Safety Associated with Conventional and Crash Energy Management Cars Mixed Within a Consist
	Collision Safety Comparison of Conventional and Crash Energy Management Passenger Rail Car Designs
	Development of a Rail Passenger Coach Car Crush-Zone
	Evaluation of Selected Crashworthiness Strategies for Passenger Trains
	Crashworthiness of Passenger Trains
	Development of a Passenger Rail Vehicle Crush Zone
	Investigation and Simulation of Lateral Buckling in Trains
	Static and Dynamic Crush Testing and Analysis of a Rail Vehicle Corner Structural Element
	Rail Passenger Equipment Collision Tests:  Analysis of Structural Measurements
	Rail Passenger Equipment Accidents and the Evaluation of Crashworthiness Strategies
	An Overview of Passenger Equipment Full-scale Impact Tests:  Results to Date
	Two-Car Impact Test of Crash energy Management Passenger Rail Cars:  Analysis of Occupant Protection Measurements
	Development of Crash Energy Management Designs for Existing Passenger Rail Vehicles
	Impact Test of a Crash-Energy Management Passenger Rail Car
	Impact Tests of Crash Energy Management Passenger Rail Cars:  Analysis and Structural Measurements
	Preparations for a Train-to-Train Impact Test of Crash-Energy Management Passenger Rail Equipment
	Review of Severe Deformation Recommended Practice Through Analyses - Comparison of Two Cab Car end Frame Designs
	A Crush Zone Design for an Existing Passenger Rail Cab Car
	Improved Crashworthiness of Rail Passenger Equipment in the United States
	Overview of a Crash Energy Management Specification for Passenger Rail Equipment
	A Train-to-Train Impact Test of Crash Energy Management Passenger Rail Equipment
	Effectiveness of Alternative Rail Passenger Equipment Crashworthiness Strategies
	Passenger Cab Car Grade Crossing Impact Test Report
	Detailed Modeling of the Train-to-Train Impact Test:  Rail Passenger Equipment Impact Tests
	Crash Energy Manaagement Crush Zone Designs:  Features, Functions and Forms
	Repair of Budd Pioneer Coach Car Crush Zones
	Performance Efficiency of a Crash Energy Management System
	A Crash Energy Management Specification for Passenger Rail Equipment
	The Influence of Train Type, Car Weight, and Train Length on Passenger Train Crashworthiness
              
      
    
          Last updated: Tuesday, October 22, 2019 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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