Simulations of front impact between two shunting locomotives at different velocities

The main aim of this study is to carry out dynamic simulations of a crash between two identical shunting locomotives running at different velocities. Numerical analyses using a Finite Element Method (FEM) include front-end impact of the running locomotive with a stationary one situated on the track. Such collision scenario is required for railway vehicles operated on national and regional networks. A considered locomotive based on a Polish shunting locomotive – SM42, however the tested locomotive was slightly modernized. Finite element model of the locomotive was developed by the authors. FE analyses were conducted according to the PN-EN 15227 standard, which provides crashworthiness requirements for railway vehicle bodies. LS-DYNA computer code was used for the simulations. The paper presents selected results of analyses focused on the locomotive frame behaviour. Simulations were performed for the vehicle between 20 and 90 km/h. An influence of the impact velocity on some output quantities was determined. Contours of effective stress for selected moments of time as well as time histories of selected values are depicted. For modernized locomotives, it is required to evaluate their behaviour during the impact test. Dynamic numerical simulation is acceptable since the experimental tests on the complete objects under consideration are impractical and impossible sometimes.