SINGLE PASSENGER RAIL CAR IMPACT TEST. VOLUME 1: OVERVIEW AND SELECTED RESULTS

A test was conducted of a single rail passenger car colliding with a fixed wall at 35 mph. The car was instrumented to measure 1) the deformations of critical structural elements, 2) the vertical, lateral, and longitudinal deceleration of the carbody and trucks, and 3) displacements of suspension systems. The car was equipped with anthropomorphic test devices (test dummies) in three interior arrangements: 1) forward-facing unrestrained occupants seated in rows, compartmentalized by the forward seat in order to limit the motions of the occupants; 2) forward facing restrained occupants with lap and shoulder belts; and 3) rear facing unrestrained occupants. The purpose of the test was to validate and calibrate computer models for analyzing crashworthiness of rail passenger vehicles.