Experimental investigation of an active–passive integration energy absorber for railway vehicles

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation of a new type of energy absorber that works on the principle of active–passive integration. The absorber consists of a crush tube, anti-climber gear, die, support tool, guide tube, and reversible actuator. Before collision, the crush tube of the absorber is extended duo to the effect of the reversible actuator, which breaks through the coupler restrictions on the longitudinal dimension of the absorber and significantly increases the deformation stroke of the absorber. During collision, the kinetic energies are dissipated by the cutting of the circular aluminium or steel tube, shear sliding, and friction between the circular tube and the die. An extension and retraction test, as well as a quasi-static cutting test of crush tubes made of two kinds of materials with different cutting depths of the absorber are conducted. The experimental results show that the active–passive integration energy absorber performs energy absorption effectively. Comparing the energy absorption between the aluminium and steel tubes, the cutting deformation mode of the aluminium tubes is more stable than that of the steel tubes, and the axial cutting force increases with increases in strength of the crush tube material and crush tube cutting depth. Finally, the new type of absorber is applicable to a variety of types of railway vehicles.