Abstract
The Volpe Center is supporting the Federal Railroad Administration in performing rail passenger equipment crashworthiness research. The overall objective of this research is to develop strategies for improving structural crashworthiness and occupant protection. A field study of passenger train accidents is being conducted to investigate the causal mechanisms of how train occupants are injured during accidents. The investigation of the April 23, 2002 collision in Placentia, CA is being used to develop occupant protection strategies. This process first required the development of two simulation models: a collision dynamics model and an occupant response model. These models suggested that workstation tables brought about fatal thoracic and abdominal injuries in two occupants. Improved crashworthiness performance workstation tables, which limit the abdominal load imparted by the table, are currently under investigation through modelling and full-scale testing with advanced anthropomorphic test devices.
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