Simula's Crash Research Expertise Utilized In Passenger Safety Analysis
19 November 1999
Simula's Aviation and Automotive Crash Research Expertise Utilized In Passenger Safety Analysis of Railcar Crash Test
PHOENIX, Nov. 18 -- This week's dramatic crash test of a
commuter railcar in Pueblo, Colorado marked the first time ever in which a
rail crash test was performed primarily to address passenger safety issues.
The program's sponsor, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and the
agency administering the crash test program, the Volpe National Transportation
Systems Center, assembled a team of organizations to perform this full-scale
crash event. Simula, Inc. , a company with an extensive history of
crash safety experience in all modes of transportation, was chosen to lead the
investigation of these occupant safety issues.
The crash test of a single commuter railcar that collided head-on into a
solid concrete barrier at 35 miles per hour is the first of a series of
dynamic tests that will be performed by the FRA-assembled team on passenger
railcars to gather more information on their structural crashworthiness and to
determine what passenger-protection strategies can be employed to enhance
safety.
"Simula's extensive experience in crashworthiness design and testing of
airplanes, helicopters, trucks and automobiles will be invaluable in
evaluating passenger railcar test data," stated Joe Coltman, President of
Simula's technology research, development and testing division. Simula will
participate with the project team in the test-data evaluation and will assist
the FRA and Volpe in writing a technical report of findings and
recommendations. This process is expected to take several months to complete.
Among the important objectives established by the FRA and the Volpe Center
in conducting this full-scale railcar crash test are obtaining more extensive
information about the current level of rail passenger safety and evaluating
the safety enhancements that are possible to improve interior crashworthiness
for passengers.
Simula has developed a worldwide reputation for its expertise in crash
survival of aircraft, automobile and military tactical vehicle accidents.
Simula works extensively with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and
has ongoing cooperative vehicle research projects with the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Army. In addition, Simula operates
the International Center for Safety Education at which personnel from the
National Transportation Safety Board, FAA and industry are trained in accident
reconstruction.
"Past experience has demonstrated the value of conducting full-scale crash
tests. Although we have conducted extensive dynamic sled tests of current seat
designs for the railroad industry's Passenger Rail Equipment Safety Standards
(PRESS) Task Force, there are many variables that can only be simulated by
crashing a full-scale vehicle," Coltman said.
Simula's past work includes full-scale crash testing of airliners for the
Federal Aviation Administration that helped establish enhanced occupant safety
requirements. "Our expertise in seating system design and accident analysis
enabled Simula's engineers to develop occupant safety experiments that
explored many of the issues involved with protecting occupants in railway
accidents," Coltman explained.
Once the crash test program team members complete the evaluation of the
crash data that was gathered during this week's test at the U.S. Department of
Transportation's Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado,
preparations will begin for a second passenger train crash test, involving two
coupled railcars. That test is scheduled for the Spring of 2000.
Simula, headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, is comprised of four principal
operating units that are aligned with its core technologies: research,
development and testing; government and defense; commercial transportation
seating; and automotive safety systems. Other technical disciplines of the
company include advanced parachutes, personal survival equipment, crash
sensors and advanced transparent polymer materials. Additional information
about Simula can be found at its web site, http://www.simula.com.