The wagons were analyzed under various loading cases including unloading in a rotary tippler. Fatigue assessments were performed using both US standards and site-specific dynamic test data which provided details such as longitudinal in-train force variations.
Finite element analysis allows structures with complex geometries to be analyzed and optimized under a large number of conditions. This is particularly important in the case of mass produced items where a small saving per unit adds up to a considerable saving overall.
