{"id":1466,"date":"2017-11-20T16:37:33","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T05:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finiteelementanalysis.com.au\/?p=1466"},"modified":"2025-10-20T13:06:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T02:06:30","slug":"crash-simulation-waterfall-train-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/fea\/crash-simulation-waterfall-train-disaster\/","title":{"rendered":"Crash Simulation of the Waterfall Train Disaster"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1466\" class=\"elementor elementor-1466\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74c69196 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"74c69196\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba7afd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba7afd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On 31 January 2003, a four car Tangara passenger train G7 on run from Sydney Central railway station to Port Kembla derailed about 2 kilometres south of Waterfall railway station. The train driver and six passengers were killed and many passengers suffered serious injuries.<\/p><p>Following the accident considerable media coverage was given to speculation concerning its cause. Numerous causes were canvassed and discussed in numerous media reports. The possible causes mentioned ranged far and wide. They included: problems with the track, excessive speed, poor maintenance, inadequate safety management, alleged prior mechanical problems which allegedly caused a surge in traction power, modification to a faster AC traction motor, motor power failure, brake failure, human error, the health of the train driver, mechanical failure, power surge when the brakes were applied, vandalism or sabotage, including rocks and ballast allegedly having been placed on the track.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9575a7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9575a7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" controls=\"controls\" width=\"860\" height=\"480\">\n<source src=\"https:\/\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/public-leapaust\/video\/waterfall.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/>\nYour browser does not support the video tag.\n<\/video>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26f1abb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26f1abb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The facts of the investigation<\/strong><\/p><ol><li>The investigation\u00a0 found no evidence to pin point the cause of the accident<\/li><li>The data logger fitted to G7 was not operative at the time of the accident, therefore data and hence evidences were not available.<\/li><li>The train driver, having died in the accident, was not available to provide information on events.<\/li><li>The train guard claimed not have any relevant recollection and he was unable to give evidence;<\/li><li>The possibility of a significant mechanical malfunction was not readily identifiable;<\/li><\/ol><p>The\u00a0 investigation\u00a0 had to rely almost entirely upon technical analysis to provide a factual basis for the drawing of inferences as to what occurred. The Finite Element Analysis conducted formed an important part of the technical analysis.<\/p><p>LEAP was commissioned by Department of transport of\u00a0 NSW to conduct an dynamic analysis to simulation the Waterfall train accident. The objectives of the analysis were:<\/p><ul><li>To understand and to identify the derailment mechanism and, to determine the velocity at which Tangara train would theoretically overturn, at the curved track of approximately 240 m radius.<\/li><li>To reconstruct the sequence of events of the accident;<\/li><li>To determine the causes of the main damage to the train structure due to the impacts between the train and infrastructures such as overhead wiring structures, rail track and rock cutting.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03666a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"03666a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1171\" height=\"878\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture7-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6724\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture7-1.jpg 1171w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture7-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture7-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture7-1-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1171px) 100vw, 1171px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-140d9b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"140d9b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>ANSYS\/LS-DYNA for Crash Simulation <\/strong><\/p><p>The simulation of\u00a0 vehicle crash response involved many complex features. These collision response mechanisms include:<\/p><ul><li>Nonlinear material behavior,<\/li><li>Large deflections and rotations,<\/li><li>Contacts at interfaces between structural components,<\/li><li>Fracture and failure of structural elements, welds, and fasteners.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Stage 1: Derailment Simulation<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Dynamic analysis with rigid car body linked with springs and joints.<\/li><li>Predicts the speed that could cause rollover derailment at the location that was identified by the scuff marks and runoff marks;<\/li><li>To establish the initial condition for deformable body crash simulation by predict the speed that the train is about to hit the stanchion and rock wall.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11ee7a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"11ee7a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"972\" height=\"729\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture8-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6725\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture8-1.jpg 972w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture8-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture8-1-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 972px) 100vw, 972px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6db5ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6db5ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Analysis Results<\/strong><\/p><p>A range of velocity (from 100 to 120 km\/hr) were simulated using the four-carriage train model.<\/p><p>The rigid body dynamic analysis shows that the speed to cause derailment at the observed location is approximately 117 km\/hr.<\/p><p>The velocity at the time the train is about to impact with stanchion SW40+805 was calculated to be 98 km\/hr. This represents a loss of 19 km\/hr having occurred due to the forces experienced in the rollover and other preceding events. This velocity was then used as initial velocity for the crash simulation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5738046 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"5738046\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/_iFq0XKDDbA?list=TLGGuklsQfyi1LEyMDEwMjAyNQ&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;mute&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ecccf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"8ecccf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/BPbjZadpPws?list=TLGGgZYsWxVzTG0yMDEwMjAyNQ&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;mute&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db5981b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db5981b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Stage 2: Crash Simulation<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Deformable body nonlinear dynamic analysis to simulate the train impacts with stanchions and rock cutting wall.<\/li><li>The train geometry was created based on SRA drawings.<\/li><li>Rock wall geometry is accurately modelled using RIC laser scan data<\/li><li>Material properties input includes: density and mass, elastic modulus, yield stress and stress-strain curve, failures strain, friction etc.<\/li><li>The FE model contains 20,000 elements. A solution of the crash simulation model takes about 24 hours running on a computer networks with 4 dual CPUs Dell high-end workstations.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-258aa8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"258aa8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/G3HpQViJqz4?list=TLGGXQ0JKlqX4uoyMDEwMjAyNQ&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;mute&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9de33d elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"d9de33d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/QgTDgEHgWAU?list=TLGG7H_SlY41w8EyMDEwMjAyNQ&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;mute&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a96ade2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a96ade2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The analysis result verification includes a comparison of the predicted results from the simulation with photographs showing the final resting location of the train, structural damage to the carriages and the geological investigation report.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5c6d36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b5c6d36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1132\" height=\"738\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture12-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6736\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture12-1.jpg 1132w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture12-1-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture12-1-1024x668.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture12-1-768x501.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1132px) 100vw, 1132px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d05d4c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d05d4c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1157\" height=\"708\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture13-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6737\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture13-1.png 1157w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture13-1-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture13-1-1024x627.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture13-1-768x470.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1157px) 100vw, 1157px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc9ed7c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bc9ed7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Identified Critical Events<\/strong><\/p><p>The following are critical events were identified from the simulation result. These observations are made in the context of viewing the animation results. \u00a0The reference time 0 second is the starting time of the crash simulation.<\/p><p><b>The leading carriage collided with stanchion sw40+ 805<\/b><\/p><p>After derailment,\u00a0\u00a0 the train rolled over and slid on its side over the up rail track with its roof edge slid on the rail bed.\u00a0 The leading carriage collided with the concrete footing first then stanchion sw40+805 itself at time about 0.1s.\u00a0\u00a0 It pulled the 25 mm diameter star anchor bar out of ground and carried the stanchion\u00a0 with its concrete footing forward.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8eca0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b8eca0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1111\" height=\"745\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture17-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6741\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture17-1.jpg 1111w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture17-1-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture17-1-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture17-1-768x515.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1111px) 100vw, 1111px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ef1524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8ef1524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><b>The footing block broke off<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>The concrete block jammed in between the rock cutting and the inverter on the front roof of the leading car. It\u00a0 pushed the inverter and the right front roof down significantly. It then broke off the stanchion at Time 0.25s.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4ec818 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b4ec818\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1096\" height=\"729\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture18-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6742\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture18-1.jpg 1096w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture18-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture18-1-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture18-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture18-1-930x620.jpg 930w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1096px) 100vw, 1096px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d28e2e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d28e2e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><b>The AC unit displaced<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>The Air-Conditioning (AC) unit was thrown\u00a0 out of its mounting bay during the impact with the rock wall at time 0.65s.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5137c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d5137c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1167\" height=\"774\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture19-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6743\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture19-1.jpg 1167w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture19-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture19-1-1024x679.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture19-1-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1167px) 100vw, 1167px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f4ca57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f4ca57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The coupler broke<\/strong><\/p><p>1.At 0.75 seconds, the leading car started to turn itself from a side position to upright position due to the impact with rock cutting wall. At this time the second car was still on its side.\u00a0 Therefore the front of the second car was at the right hand side of the leading car.\u00a0 The coupler between the leading car and the second was misaligned. The velocity of the leading car reduced due to the impact with the rock wall.\u00a0 The second car\u00a0 pushed behind it.\u00a0 The compressive force between the two cars caused further misalignment of the coupler.\u00a0 When the coupler reached its misalignment limit (about 45 degrees), the rotation was constrained at the coupler swing joint, and the misaligned compressive force or impact load produced a large bending moment.\u00a0 The muff coupling then broke under this loading condition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b2a7e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1b2a7e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1168\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture20-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6744\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture20-1.jpg 1168w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture20-1-300x155.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture20-1-1024x530.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture20-1-768x397.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1168px) 100vw, 1168px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b49f67 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b49f67\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Car 1 slid along the \u201cramp\u201d and impacted with rock cutting<\/strong><\/p><p>The leading car slid on the ramp and impacted with the rock cutting wall.\u00a0 The reaction force pushed it up.\u00a0 The leading car turned itself upright and also went up along the ramp a few metres before dropping off (Time 0.85s).\u00a0 The main damage to the front top of leading car was caused by impact with the rock cutting wall, although the stanchion and its footing also caused significant damage.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a426732 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a426732\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1166\" height=\"775\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture21-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6745\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture21-1.jpg 1166w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture21-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture21-1-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture21-1-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1166px) 100vw, 1166px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0cfb080 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0cfb080\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Impact between\u00a0 Car 1 and Car 2<\/strong><\/p><p>After the coupler was broken, the second car impacted into the back of the leading car at time 0.9s. And\u00a0 the two cars then separated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7997156 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7997156\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1147\" height=\"752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture22-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6749\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture22-1.jpg 1147w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture22-1-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture22-1-1024x671.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture22-1-768x504.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1147px) 100vw, 1147px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b1d70a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b1d70a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><b>Passengers were thrown out<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>The passengers in the upper deck of the leading car were thrown out of the carriage during the upright turning of the leading car at about 1.1 second. The passenger\u2019s simulated landing locations are within a 5 metre\u2019s range to the actual resting locations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7db826e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7db826e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1166\" height=\"766\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture23-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6750\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture23-1.jpg 1166w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture23-1-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture23-1-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture23-1-768x505.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1166px) 100vw, 1166px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-103335b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"103335b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Car 2 impact with rock cutting<\/strong><\/p><p>The second car slid along the \u201cramp\u201d and impacted hard with the protruding rock wall. The main damage to car 2 occurred during this impact at time about 1.55 s.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aeb71e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aeb71e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1169\" height=\"772\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture24-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6751\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture24-1.jpg 1169w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture24-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture24-1-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture24-1-768x507.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1169px) 100vw, 1169px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56d1864 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"56d1864\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Car 1 dropped off rock cutting<\/b><\/p><p>The leading car dropped off the rock wall and impacted with the ground at approximately 1.7 seconds. This impact\u00a0 severely damaged the main structural beam of the leading car.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5947a87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5947a87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1164\" height=\"491\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture26-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6753\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture26-1.png 1164w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture26-1-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture26-1-1024x432.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture26-1-768x324.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1164px) 100vw, 1164px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-002a40b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"002a40b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Car 4 impacted Stanchion SW40+773<\/b><\/p><p>The Air Conditioning (AC) unit which forms part of the rear roof of the fourth car (6832) impacted with stanchion SW40+773 at time 2.4s and brought it down.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb9e2e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"eb9e2e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1127\" height=\"743\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture27-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6757\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture27-1.png 1127w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture27-1-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture27-1-1024x675.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Picture27-1-768x506.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1127px) 100vw, 1127px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16b3c598 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"16b3c598\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p><p>The simulation result is consistent with the physical evidences including the carriages resting position and damages, the stanchions deformed shape and resting position. It reproduced the crash sequence of events and\u00a0\u00a0 demonstrated the ejection mechanism for the driver and passengers.\u00a0 The predicted driver and the passengers landing locations are reasonably accurate.<\/p><p>The FEA simulation work was highly recognized by the Special Commission and the simulation result was extensively used in Commissioner\u2019s final report to explain what might have happened during the tragic accident.<\/p><p>This is just one example of how FE analysis can be used to investigate high impact events. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Contact LEAP today<\/span><\/a> if you have specific requirements that you\u2019d like to discuss.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On 31 January 2003, a four car Tangara passenger train G7 on run from Sydney Central railway station to Port Kembla derailed about 2 kilometres south of Waterfall railway station. The train driver and six passengers were killed and many passengers suffered serious injuries. Following the accident considerable media coverage was given to speculation concerning&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/fea\/crash-simulation-waterfall-train-disaster\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Crash Simulation of the Waterfall Train Disaster<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1480,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","neve_meta_reading_time":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1466"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6760,"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1466\/revisions\/6760"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leapaust.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}