Puncture Resistance of Scale Model Aluminum Tank Car Heads

摘要

In derailments and switchyard operations, tank cars may experience impacts that result in tank car head puncture. There is a need for reliable small scale testing procedures to simulate the response of tank car heads in impact situations. In the study small scale center impact testing was performed: (1) to assess the effectiveness of protective devices on increasing aluminum tank car heads puncture resistance; (2) to evaluate the effect of low temperature on the threshold puncture energy of the model aluminum tank car heads; (3) to test the validity of the scaling laws adopted; and (4) to study the influence of lading on the vulnerability of the model aluminum tank car heads in horizontal impact situation. The test results indicate that the difference between the threshold puncture velocities of the two scaled models is higher than the difference indicated by the non-dimensional analysis of the scaling laws.