Static strength and crashworthiness analysis of a train cowcatcher at a running speed of 160 km/h

Abstract

The cowcatcher is one of the unique devices at the front end of the train, which can remove obstacles on the track by crashing before the vehicle body to ensure the safety of the train. When a collision accident happens, the cowcatcher serves as the first energy-absorbing structure to dissipate and guide the collision energy. The design of the existing cowcatcher of multiple units generally focuses on the good ability to remove obstacles, while the secondary function, the crashworthiness of orderly deformation under collision, still needs further research. In this study, a finite element model of structural static load and collision analysis was established under standard EN 15227, with the cowcatcher for 160 km/h train as the prototype. Then the solution and simulation process was accomplished under the environment of ANSYS and LS-DYNA. The analysis results showed that the structural static strength of the current cowcatcher met the requirements of the standard EN 15227, and the longitudinal stiffness was evenly distributed. When removing the obstacles with low mass, the impact force was small and the structure would not produce obvious deformation; when removing the obstacles with large mass, the impact force was large and the shear fracture might occur at the connection of the cowcatcher.