The passive safety system of a high-speed multiple-unit train

The Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine (ITM NASU and SSAU), Department of statistical dynamics and multidimensional mechanical systems dynamics, 15, Lyashko-Popelya, Dnipro, 49005, Ukraine

^* Corresponding author: sobmb@i.ua

Abstract

The designing of modern high-speed multiple-unit trains in Ukraine should be carried out accounting for passive safety systems (PSSs) which include energy absorption devices (EADs). In the cases of trains collisions with obstacles these systems must automatically work to increase the passenger transportation safety, to reduce the risk of injury and death of passengers and service personnel, to minimize rolling stock damage. On the base of European experience in power head passive protection, a three-dimensional geometric model of the domestic power head frontal part with energy absorption devices containing cellular elements was developed. The protective devices for the power head and energy absorption devices installed in inter-car connections were proposed using the experience of development of the EP20 locomotive energy absorption device and results of its prototype crash test. The scientific methodology was developed to evaluation the EAD parameters. Finite-element models for studying the plastic deformation of EAD designs at impact and discrete-mass mathematical models for studying the dynamic loading of reference multiple-unit train vehicles in emergency collisions were developed in accordance with the DSTU EN 15227 requirements. As a research result, the parameters of the EAD designs have been obtained and compliance of the developed passive safety system with regulatory requirements has been proven.