Evaluation of Structural Strength in Body Structure of Freight Car

Abstract

To check the structural strength of the body of the newly–made container freight car, load was added to the underframe of the container freight car. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether or not the underframe of a freight car under the maximal strength is safe. A freight car for transporting railroad freight is usually designed and made of SM490YA steel and SM490Y steel. The carbody of rolling stock is a principal structure that supports major equipment of the underframe and the container freight. Therefore, the strength evaluation of this structure is important. Both structural analysis and loading test were performed under the loading condition. Prior to the evaluation of structural strength, finite element method software was used for structural analyses on stress distribution in a carbody of a freight car. The strain gauges were attached on the carbody based on FEM results. The actual vertical loading test and horizontal compression loading test were conducted