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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Detailed Puncture Analyses of Tank Cars: Analysis of Different Impactor Threats and Impact Conditions

Document Series
Technical Reports
Author
Steven W. Kirkpatrick
Report Number
DOT/FRA/ORD-13/17 Revision 1
Office
RRD
Subject Hazardous Materials
Keywords
Tank car, Impactor, derailment, hazardous materials, hazmat

There has been significant research in recent years to analyze and improve the impact behavior and puncture resistance of railroad tank cars. Much of this research has been performed using detailed nonlinear finite element analyses supported by full scale impact testing. This use of detailed simulation methodologies has significantly improved our understanding of the tank impact behaviors and puncture prediction. However, the evaluations in these past studies were primarily performed for a few idealized impact scenarios. This report describes a research program to evaluate railroad tank car puncture behaviors under more general impact conditions. The approach used in this research program was to apply a tank impact and puncture prediction capability using detailed finite element analyses (FEA). The analysis methodologies apply advanced damage and failure models that were validated by a series of material tests under various loading conditions. In this study, the analyses were applied to investigate the tank puncture behaviors for a wide range of impact conditions.


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Last updated: Friday, March 22, 2024