Evaluation of the Structural Integrity of a Sandwich Composite Train Roof Structure

샌드위치 복합재 철도차량 루프구조물의 구조안전성 평가

We have evaluated the structural integrity of a sandwich composite train roof which can find a lightweight, cost saving solution to large structural components for rail vehicles in design stages. The sandwich composite train roof was 11.45 meter long and 1.76 meter wide. The reinforced frame was inserted in sandwich panels to improve the structural performance of train roof structure and had the shape of hollow rectangular box. The finite-element analysis was used to calculate the stresses, deflections and natural frequencies of the sandwich composite train roof against the weight of air-condition system. The 3D sandwich FE model was introduced to simulate the hollow aluminum frames which jointed to both sides of the sandwich train roof. The results shown that the structural performance of a sandwich composite train roof under load conditions specified was proven and the use of aluminum reinforced frame was beneficial with regard to weight savings in comparison to steel reinforced frame.