Passive Safety Assessment of Railroad Trains in Moose Herd Collision Scenarios

Shizhong Zhao, Zhengsheng Hu (), Yangyang Yu, Gongxun Deng and Min Deng
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Shizhong Zhao: CCRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., Qingdao 266000, China
Zhengsheng Hu: Key Laboratory of Traffic Safety on Track, Ministry of Education, School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
Yangyang Yu: CCRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., Qingdao 266000, China
Gongxun Deng: Key Laboratory of Traffic Safety on Track, Ministry of Education, School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
Min Deng: Key Laboratory of Traffic Safety on Track, Ministry of Education, School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Moose herd–train collisions represent one of the potential hazards that railway operations must contend with, making the assessment of passive train safety in such scenarios a crucial concern. This study analyzes the responses of bullet trains colliding with moose herds and investigates the influence of various factors under these conditions. To achieve this goal, a multibody (MB) model was developed using the MADYMO platform. The displacement of the moose’s center of gravity (CG) was employed to assess the safety boundaries, while the relative positions between the wheels and rails were used to evaluate the risk of derailment. The findings revealed that the collision forces exhibited multi-peak characteristics that were subsequently transmitted to the wheel–rail contact system, resulting in disturbances in the relative positions of the wheels and rails. However, these disturbances did not reach a level that would induce train derailment. Furthermore, larger moose herds exhibited higher throw heights, although these heights remained within safe limits and did not pose a threat to overhead lines. The primary safety risk in moose–train collisions stemmed from secondary collisions involving moose that had fallen onto the tracks and oncoming trains. This study offers valuable insights for enhancing the operational safety of high-speed trains and safeguarding wildlife along railway corridors.

Keywords: train–moose herd collisions; crash safety assessment; high-speed train; accident analysis; multibody mode (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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