Study on the Influence of Collision Scene on the Energy Dissipation Process for Train Collision

Orderly and controllable dissipation of impact kinetic energy is the key to ensuring train collision safety in different collision scenarios. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the change rule of collision energy dissipation under different collision scenarios and design the parameters of the energy-absorbing structure to meet the demand for collision energy dissipation. Four representative train collision scenarios are formulated based on train collision accidents, and the concept of energy dissipation rate is proposed to characterize the drastic degree of collision energy change under different collision scenarios. Based on the train longitudinal collision dynamics model verified by the line collision test of the train, the effects of varying collision scenarios on the energy dissipation rate, energy absorption and maximum average acceleration of train collision are studied. The study results show that the longitudinal collision dynamics model of the train established in this paper can better characterize the dynamic response of the vehicle by comparing it with the results of the line collision test. The maximum difference in the speed of each vehicle after the collision is 4.91%. The differences in the energy dissipation process, interface energy absorption and maximum average acceleration are minor in four collision scenarios, including a moving train hitting a stationary train, rear-end train collision and head-on train collision. The maximum difference in energy absorbed at the interface for head-on collision is 1.54%. The initial and residual collision kinetic energy is greater in the train rear-end collision scenario, and the train rear-end collision scenario should be considered when evaluating the train’s lateral instability and vertical climbing behavior.