Chris Walker Wrote:
=======================================================
> These guys are smart, imagine getting out of the
> office on their very own little private charter,
> approved and paid for by the Boss and all they had
> to do was collate a few facts and figures on
> findings of strategically placed strain gauges.
> The results of testing 1890's built machinery will
> be used to calibrate their next time-machine.
>
>
> Chris
> in New Zealand
Actually, this information is being used to calibrate the long out of print AREA bridge calculations to make sure they still apply to the dynamic augment and nosing of steam locomotives when input into bridge loading calculations. The most recent bridge rule (49 CFR Part 237) require all carriers, even so called "FRA Lite", to:
ยง 237.71 Determination of bridge load capacities.
(a) Each track owner shall determine the load capacity of each of its railroad bridges. The load capacity need not be the ultimate or maximum load capacity, but must be a safe load capacity.
(c) The determination of load capacity shall be made by a railroad bridge engineer using appropriate engineering methods and standards that are particularly applicable to railroad bridges.
(g) Bridge load capacity may be expressed in terms of numerical values related to a standard system of bridge loads, but shall in any case be stated in terms of weight and length of individual or combined cars and locomotives, for the use of transportation personnel.
The feds took the opportunity to get three distinct, yet related, steam locomotive design's stress inputs into the rail, at different speeds and loads. (and on a railroad owned by a government entity, so there was no private bias) The curves generated by that data will be used to verify the original charts from which the Cooper loadings (see "g" above) were calculated. At this point we need to find out if the Cooper loads are liberal or conservative as they relate to rail pound and nosing.
This is neither guidance nor advice, as a furloughed federal worker, I am not permitted to dispense either!
Regards,
Steve
(one of the "smart guys" who ended up home sick rather than in Chama two weeks ago)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2013 08:44PM by szuiderveen.
