ALJOIN: Crashworthiness of joints in aluminium rail vehicles

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0403

Key words (English)

Environmental Protection; Safety; Transport

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: G3RD-CT-2002-00829

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.3 Land transport and marine technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

Aluminium alloys are now in widespread use in Europe and elsewhere for rail vehicle construction. However, in recent collisions involving seam welded aluminium rail coaches, observation showed that some of the longitudinal seam welds had fractured for some metres beyond the zone of severe damage, the panels themselves generally being intact without significant distortion. The designer needs the data to assess this fracture phenomenon and be able to take appropriate measures. In addition for this requirement, there is a need for innovation in the use of new joining techniques and joint design concepts to improve the performance of the vehicles under severe conditions. ALJOIN alms to prove innovative aluminium welding technologies in the construction of new rail vehicles such as friction stir welding (FSW). ALJOIN will study and evaluate the use of alternative grades of aluminium alloys to contribute to the crashworthiness of the rail vehicles.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0403