Surface Treatment Technologies, Inc. (ST2) evaluated high strength alloys combined with novel design approaches and advanced joining techniques to develop crash resistant high speed passenger rolling stock concepts. The use of high strength aerospace aluminum alloys in railcar construction has historically been limited by joining and corrosion issues. The metallurgical evaluation conducted in this project showed that aluminum alloys containing scandium have strengths comparable to high strength aerospace alloys with corrosion resistance and weldability comparable to alloys typically used in rail car construction. In addition, the resistance to recrystallization imparted by the scandium addition allows these high strength alloys to be fabricated into complex shapes. Designers can use these high strength alloys to increase performance and safety of passenger rolling stock. This work also evaluated using integrally stiffened extrusion panels to replace built up and welded structures currently used. The use of integrally stiffened panels joined using the friction stir welding process can reduce manufacturing cost and improve safety and reliability. A path for manufacturing extruded integrally stiffened aluminum scandium alloy panels was established. As a follow-on to this project ST2 has initiated discussions with car builders to incorporate these design concepts and alloys into passenger rolling stock systems.
High-Strength, Lightweight Car Bodies for High-Speed Rail Vehicles. High Speed Rail IDEA Project 32
2004
38 pages
Report
No indication
English
Taiwan high-speed rail project
British Library Online Contents | 1998
|Taiwan high-speed rail project
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998
|High-speed rail station rail bearing structure and high-speed rail station
European Patent Office | 2021
|