Energy-absorption optimisation of locomotives and scaled equivalent model validation

Abstract

In order to improve crashworthiness, the optimum energy-absorption design of locomotives was performed in MADYMO multibody dynamics software, and a three-dimensional computational model for locomotive vehicles was built. The results of calculations using the model were then fitted by multiple linear-regression functions, and a scaled equivalent model test was carried out to validate the fitting formula results. The results showed how to influence the energy absorption of a locomotive by studying the mass and velocity of the locomotive, as well as the plastic deformation platform force of the middle car's crushing tube. The fitting formula related to the plastic deformation platform force of the crushing of the middle car's tube and the kinetic energy of the locomotive was also obtained. The fitting accuracy of the model was 99.98%, and the error between the calculation results from the fitting formula and the scaled equivalent model test results was less than 5%. These results reveal the mode of energy dissipation, and they can be applied to the preliminary conceptual design of train. The dynamic tests of prototype are essential before serial production.