Numerical analysis of impact between shunting locomotive and selected road vehicle

The main aim of this study is to carry out dynamic finite element analysis of a crash between shunting locomotive and selected road vehicle. Numerical simulations include side impact of the running locomotive in the vehicle situated across the track. A considered locomotive based on a popular Polish shunting locomotive – SM42. However, the tested locomotive was slightly modernized in comparison with the original one. Finite element model of the locomotive was developed by the authors whereas the vehicle FE model was download from the free database of such models. FE analysis was carried out according to the PN-EN 15227 standard which provides crashworthiness requirements for railway vehicle bodies. 15 tons large truck was selected as a representative for the study. One of the design collision scenario includes such deformable obstacle for railway vehicles operated on national and regional networks. LS-DYNA computer code was used for the simulations. The paper presents selected results of analysis generally focused on the locomotive frame behaviour. Contours of stress for selected moments of time are presented. Moreover, time histories of selected parameters are depicted. The energy balance was also checked in order to confirm the accuracy of analysis. The current study is a part of the project focused on modernization of the SM42 locomotive. Therefore, it is required to evaluate the locomotive behaviour during the impact test. Dynamic numerical simulation are acceptable since the experimental tests on the complete objects under consideration are impractical and impossible at the moment.