Mechanical analysis of a cowcatcher for a high-speed train in crashing

A finite element model of a cowcatcher mounted at the front of a high-speed train is established and the processes when the head car crashes a rigid wall or an obstacle at different speeds are simulated by using ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. The results show that with the cowcatcher the passenger deceleration would decrease and the kinetic energy can be absorbed more quickly when the head car crashes a rigid wall. When a train crashes an obstacle on the track at a low speed, say 10m/s, the obstacle is turned up, which may destroy upper structures of the train. When the speed is high, say 50m/s, the obstacle will crash into the cowcatcher and the kinetic energy of the train will be absorbed by the front part of the cowcatcher.