Topology and Sizing Optimisation of Cowcatcher for Enhancing Post-Derailment Passive Safety Performance

The train cowcatcher not only sweeps aside animals, debris, or objects obstructing the tracks, preventing damage to a train and reducing the risk of derailment, but it also serves as a passive safety protection mechanism after a derailment.However, due to intense impact forces, the cowcatcher may sustain severe structural damage, potentially compromising its passive safety protection capability.To address this issue, this paper employs a collaborative optimisation approach to conduct topology and sizing optimisation of the cowcatcher, aiming to reduce its mass while enhancing structural strength and passive safety protection performance after a derailment.Validation tests were conducted for both pre-and post-optimized cowcatchers in the derailment simulations.The results indicate that the post-optimized cowcatcher exhibits stronger structural stability, and its passive safety protection capability is improved.