Wind-Induced Tip Over

Freight Train Derailment: 18 February 2006 Montreal, Quebec, Kahnawake Bridge 67 miles/hour crosswinds

Abstract

An operational safety issue facing railroad operators is wind-induced tip-over.  A study was completed using CFD to develop a database of tip-over tendencies for a variety of car types within the Norfolk Southern fleet.  The use of this database in the development of a speed restricting system for the Sandusky Bay Bridge is also discussed.

Objectives

High winds have caused a number of accidents involving both freight trains and passenger trains.

• 28 January 1987: Union Pacific Railroad, 4 empty containers blown from two TTWX cars near Laramie, Wyoming; wind speeds reached 45 mph.
• 24 March 1987: Union Pacific Railroad, 25 cars were derailed near Brule, Nebraska due to high winds (up to 53 mph).
• 11 November 1998: Consolidated Rail Corporation, 64 Road Railer intermodal cars derail on Sandusky Bay Causeway (Ohio) during high winds.
• 11 February 2003: Norfolk Southern Railway, train derailment on Sandusky Bay Causeway (Ohio), during high winds.

• Develop railcar rolling moment database to predict impending tip-over conditions.
• Wind tunnel test data of high population railcars
• CFD study of high-population railcars
• Integrate aerodynamic database with car dynamics simulations using VAMPIRE
  
• Develop real-time computer algorithm to signal appropriate speed reductions in possible tip-over conditions.
• Select and locate wind sensor and configure system to display appropriate speed restrictions.

Train Cars Included in Consist Database
- Box Cars (BS177, BS216, BS89)        - RoadRailer (53” Trailer)
- Hopper Cars (HS46, H11D)                - Gondola Car
- Well Cars (Thrall, Gunderson)              - Flat Car (+ Autorack)

Approach

Speed Restricting System


Tipping Moment Data

Wind Tunnel Tests (16% and 30% Scale)

CFD Models (Example is 53 Foot Well Car)

Results and Conclusions