Dynamic Simulation of Train Derailments

This paper describes a planar rigid-body model to examine the gross motions of rail cars in a train derailment. The model is implemented using a commercial software package called ADAMS (Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems). The results of the ADAMS model are compared with results from other engineering models that were developed from explicit derivation of the equations of motion. The ADAMS model was also used to conduct sensitivity studies. Various assumptions and characteristic values were varied to examine their respective effect on the resulting motion. The variations include: the number of cars in the train make-up, on-and off-track coefficients of friction, coupler characteristics, and initial conditions. Results from the simulations suggest that train speed, on- and off-track coefficients of friction, and coupler characteristics have the most significant influence on the gross motions.Copyright © 2006 by ASME