CRASHWORTHINESS ANALYSIS OF THE UMTA STATE-OF-THE-ART CARS

An engineering assessment of the crashworthiness of the UMTA State-of-the-Art Car (SOAC) has been conducted as part of a program to provide safer transportation to urban rail vehicles. Crash dynamics and crashworthiness methodology based on post-yield energy absorption characteristics and a 'weighted acceleration' severity index has been applied. Sensitivity studies have been conducted to show the effect of car buff strength, passenger relative velocity, passenger spacing, and cushioning on casualties as defined by the severity index. Major gains in injury reduction through improved internal cushioning are indicated. The prevention of car penetration by override is treated. The SOAC collision dynamics model is validated by comparison to the SOAC-gondola accident of August 11, 1973, and by comparison to a nonlinear finite element mathematical simulation of the SOAC in crash conditions.