An Investigation of Rail Rapid Transit Carbody Materials

摘要

The behavior of the three carbody materials commonly used in the United States, which are aluminum, low alloy high tensile steel, and stainless steel, is examined in this report and compared throughout the range of rapid transit and inter-city passenger rail service applications and operating environments in North America and Europe. Life cycle cost implications of each material in specific applications and environments were derived from a statistical analysis of the conditions of a representative, structured sample of 520 rapid railcars, which were selected for detailed, careful examination of the 21 critical points which together permit characterization of structural material behavior. The cars comprise a representative sample of carbody materials, construction techniques, operating environments, and years-in-service. A computer-input form was completed for each of the cars, making possible an intensive statistical analysis of the observed conditions and the collective experience of operators and carbuilders.