Static and Fatigue Analysis of the Front Draft Lugs of a Railroad Tank-Car Using FEM

  IJETT-book-cover  International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT)          
  
© 2014 by IJETT Journal
Volume-16 Number-1
Year of Publication : 2014
Authors : J. O. Trejo-Escandón , A. Leyva-Díaz , J. M. Sandoval-Pineda , P. A. Tamayo-Meza , L. A. Flores-Herrera
  10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V16P210

Citation 

J. O. Trejo-Escandón , A. Leyva-Díaz , J. M. Sandoval-Pineda , P. A. Tamayo-Meza , L. A. Flores-Herrera. "Static and Fatigue Analysis of the Front Draft Lugs of a Railroad Tank-Car Using FEM", International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT), V16(1),43-48 Oct 2014. ISSN:2231-5381. www.ijettjournal.org. published by seventh sense research group

Abstract

In this work the main results of a static and fatigue analysis performed by means of a computational model of a Tank-Car are presented. The tensile load (draft) is the more continuous condition presented during typical service situations, and is directly applied over the front draft lugs when the train starts its movement. In this sense, a three-dimensional finite element analysis of the wagon is carried out in the ANSYS Workbench platform. The static loads are applied in orden to estimate the fatigue life of the lugs. The material properties and boundary conditions were applied directly in accordance with the guidelines set out by the American Association of Railroads (AAR). The results of this analysis can be a useful tool for designers of railway equipment and to improve the designs safety.

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Keywords
Draft lugs, Fatigue Analysis, FEA, Static load, Tank-Car.