The Metrobus is part of the recent public transport strategy of Padova. It is based on an innovative design developed by the Lohr Group, specialist in the design and creation of passenger and goods transport systems. The Metrobus is a new generation of light urban tramways, where the axle on pneumatic tyres replaces the railway boogie. The guiding of the bus is provided by a roller “V” system linked to a single guide rail which is level with the roadway, thus assuring accuracy of the route whilst avoiding wear and noise, avoiding also weighing on the rail, and mechanically impossible to derail. The uniqueness of the solution of Padova’s Metrobus in connection with the common Lohr design, is the material which is used to embed the guide rail: a polyurethane resin matrix and inert black rubber composite. This paper deals with the assessment of the safety of such embedded guide rail structure design, with respect to loads induced by the Metrobus itself and by the traffic as well as related to environmental conditions and ageing factors. The mechanical properties of the system are first determined by solving an identification-type reverse engineering problem on the available data coming from laboratory and in site tests. Then various FE analyses are carried out on highly non-linear models (ANSYS) including investigation on the dynamic answer of the system to impact forces from road traffic (LS-DYNA).

Assessing the safety of the embedding system of the guide rail of the Padova's Metrobus

ODORIZZI, STEFANO;
2004

Abstract

The Metrobus is part of the recent public transport strategy of Padova. It is based on an innovative design developed by the Lohr Group, specialist in the design and creation of passenger and goods transport systems. The Metrobus is a new generation of light urban tramways, where the axle on pneumatic tyres replaces the railway boogie. The guiding of the bus is provided by a roller “V” system linked to a single guide rail which is level with the roadway, thus assuring accuracy of the route whilst avoiding wear and noise, avoiding also weighing on the rail, and mechanically impossible to derail. The uniqueness of the solution of Padova’s Metrobus in connection with the common Lohr design, is the material which is used to embed the guide rail: a polyurethane resin matrix and inert black rubber composite. This paper deals with the assessment of the safety of such embedded guide rail structure design, with respect to loads induced by the Metrobus itself and by the traffic as well as related to environmental conditions and ageing factors. The mechanical properties of the system are first determined by solving an identification-type reverse engineering problem on the available data coming from laboratory and in site tests. Then various FE analyses are carried out on highly non-linear models (ANSYS) including investigation on the dynamic answer of the system to impact forces from road traffic (LS-DYNA).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/2489673
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