Laboratory Simulation of Vibration Environment Encountered in Rail Shipment of Automobiles

Data recorded during a railroad shipment of automobiles were used to determine the cause of auto frame damage. This paper points out that the damage is caused primarily by the vertical motions of the rail car. These motions were duplicated by a relatively simple simulator consisting of tape controlled servo hydraulic rams and a platform. The simulator reproduces automobile damage experienced on railroad shipments, and has been used to evaluate rapidly different methods of attaching automobiles to the rail car.