Validation of the Accessible Lavatory Recommendations for the Next Generation of Accessible Passenger Rail Cars

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Hunter-Zaworski ◽  
Robin Kiff ◽  
Melissa Shurland
Keyword(s):  
Working Group ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Rail Vehicles ◽  
Virtual Models ◽  
Mobility Devices ◽  
Project Objectives ◽  
Wheeled Mobility

The accessible lavatory specifications are part of the recommendations for specifications of the Next Generation of Passenger Rail Vehicles. These are being validated using virtual tools to model wheeled mobility aids with occupants using “concept” lavatories to determine optimal spatial configurations for accessible lavatories on board passenger rail vehicles. The overall project objectives included the development of accessibility specifications for the single and bi-level cars that can be used by the rail manufacturing industry to produce vehicles for high speed (HSR) and intercity passenger rail. The specific objective includes developing “virtual” models of accessible lavatories that incorporate the recommended accessibility specifications reported in paper No. JRC 2013-2554 in the proceedings of the 2013 Joint Rail Conference. The “virtual” models will permit both calibration and validation of the recommendations that were submitted to the PRII A Accessibility Working Group (the Working Group). The Working Group requested that prior to acceptance of the recommendations that they be validated and calibrated. The use of “virtual” validation tools and models permits the development, validation and calibration of different lavatory concepts and configurations prior to any future full scale testing. The construction and testing of full scale models is expensive, and some of the costs can be defrayed through the use of virtual modeling. This project extends the work undertaken in the development of the draft specifications for the accessibility of next generation of passenger rail cars. The draft specifications increase the size of both the wheeled mobility devices and occupants as a reflection of the changes in population demographics, this has prompted the need to develop new accessible lavatories that are more inclusive for the user, and still meet the design constraints of the vehicle builders. The project uses the new recommended design parameters for wheeled mobility devices and the draft guidelines for new accessibility features. Current accessible lavatories that are used on VIA Rail cars in Canada, and the TALGO and the Acela in the US serve as base models for the 2-D and 3-D renderings. These designs are optimized, validated, and calibrated with mannequins that represent the 5th and 95th percentile populations on large wheeled mobility devices including; sport manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and 4 wheel scooters that meet the 30 inch wide by 54 inch long footprint. It is known that some accessible lavatories that on are on existing rolling stock do not meet the needs of all customers. This project will provide quantitative measures to evaluate current designs and recommend future designs that are more inclusive.

Validation of the Space for Accommodating Wheeled Mobility Devices on Accessible Passenger Rail Cars

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Hunter-Zaworski ◽  
Friederich Berthelsdorf ◽  
Melissa Shurland
Keyword(s):  
Working Group ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Virtual Models ◽  
Mobility Devices ◽  
Power Base ◽  
Spatial Configurations ◽  
Manual Wheelchairs ◽  
Project Objectives ◽  
Wheeled Mobility

The overall project objectives included the development of accessibility specifications for the single and bi-level cars that can be used by the rail manufacturing industry to produce vehicles for HSR passenger rail. The specific objective included developing “virtual” models of space to accommodate wheeled mobility devices without sacrificing revenue seating. The “virtual” models developed permit both calibration and validation of the recommendations that were submitted to the PRIIA accessibility working group. The working group requested that prior to acceptance of the recommendations that they be validated and calibrated. The use of “virtual” validation tools and models permitted the development, validation and calibration of different spatial configurations and different types of wheeled mobility devices prior to full scale testing. The design wheeled mobility device was a power base. Unoccupied larger scooters were also evaluated for stowage with the assumption that scooter users would transfer to regular train seats. This project extends the work undertaken in the development of the draft specifications for the Accessibility Working Group. The draft specifications incorporate the increase in the size of both the wheeled mobility devices and occupants as a reflection of the changes in population demographics. The validation work has used the Acela cars to serve as base models for the 2-D and 3-D renderings. These designs are optimized, validated, and calibrated with manikins that represent the 5th and 95th percentile populations on large wheeled mobility devices including; sport manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and four wheeled scooters that meet the 30 inch wide by 54 inch long footprint. The large scooter that meets the 30 inch by 54 inch long footprint does not fit inside the accessible restrooms and also compromises seating space in the coach. The powerbase and manual wheelchairs work the current Acela trainsets.

Recommendations for the PRIIA Specifications on the Next Generation of Accessible Passenger Rail Cars

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Hunter-Zaworski ◽  
Uwe Rutenberg ◽  
Melissa Shurland
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Mobile Media ◽  
Population Demographics ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Rail Vehicles ◽  
Mobility Devices ◽  
Seating Location ◽  
Broad Cross Section ◽  
Wheeled Mobility

The recommendations for the new PRIIA specifications of the Next Generation of Accessible Passenger rail cars take access by people with disabilities to a new level of inclusion. The recommendations under consideration are more responsive to changes in population demographics and reflect the changes in wheeled mobility devices technologies. The new recommendations are evidence based on research, and the development process involves a broad cross section of the passenger rail industry as well as federal agencies responsible for accessibility. The recommendations focus on making the next generation of passenger rail cars more inclusive and accessible. The recommendations incorporate changes in population demographics and wheeled mobility technologies and go above and beyond current Americans with Disabilities Act regulations that were written over twenty years ago. Specifically that the US population is getting older and more obese. In most US states between 20 and 30% of the population show a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30. Some examples of the new recommendations include the following; the wheelchair lift minimum payload will be increased from 600 to 800 pounds, the lift platform will be extended in length from 30 × 48 to 30 × 54 inches, and the maneuvering and accessible seating location is increased to 32 inches wide by 59 inches long. A new recommendation for making the rail car vestibule more accessible for a 90 degree turn includes increasing the vestibule width from 42 to 44 inches. These recommendations will make passenger rail cars accessible to about 90 percent of the current users of wheeled mobility devices. Currently the passenger rail vehicles can only accommodate approximately 50 percent of wheeled mobility devices. There are also provisions in the new recommendations for improving the accessible restroom and its components, even though some of the current passenger rail vehicles have reasonably accessible lavatories. The new recommendations include space for dependent and independent transfers in the restroom and will provide a more consistent level of accessibility for all the new passenger rail cars. Space is recommended for the accommodation of service animal in each car. The new recommendations also include enhanced provisions for passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing. At a minimum the recommendations incorporate current technologies that are used in transit vehicles for dual mode communication, and also include suggestions for accessible real time passenger information and communication systems, and making information accessible on personal mobile media. The new recommendations are in the validation and approval process. As a first step, the recommendations will be approved by the PRIIA Section 305 Next Generation Equipment Committee.

Containment for Occupied Wheeled Mobility Devices on Passenger Rail Trains

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine Hunter-Zaworski ◽  
Kristine Severson ◽  
Melissa Shurland
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Vehicle Interior ◽  
Interior Space ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Rail Vehicles ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Mobility Devices ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Wheeled Mobility

The paper addresses the need to examine the trade-offs between passenger safety and independence in travel by people who use wheeled mobility devices on passengers trains. It has been the practice in Asia, North America and Europe to not require passengers in wheeled mobility devices (WhMDs) such as wheelchairs to secure their wheeled devices when traveling by rail. There are several motivations for examining the need for containment of WhMDs on passenger trains. In general the population is aging and getting larger, and this is reflected in the types of WhMDs that passengers are trying to bring on board trains. The US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and members of the Rail Vehicle Access Advisory Committee (RVAAC) requested a feasibility study on the economic impacts of accommodating two or more wheeled mobility devices in the accessible seating area [1]. The feasibility study indicated that there is space to accommodate two WhMDs without significant impact on revenue seat loss, however safety issues have emerged, and are the basis of this paper. The three research questions that are addressed include: I. What is the appropriate interior space that accounts for WhMD maneuvering? II. What are the appropriate levels of deceleration and jerk to be considered in the vehicle interior for passenger rail vehicles under severe braking? III. What is the appropriate level of containment for occupied wheeled mobility devices on passenger rail vehicles? The paper examines research literature and other findings from both North America and Europe that address in part the research questions.

scholarly journals Development of Crash Energy Management Designs for Existing Passenger Rail Vehicles

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloy Martinez ◽  
David Tyrell ◽  
Benjamin Perlman
Keyword(s):  
Energy Management ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Lateral Buckling ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Rail Vehicles ◽  
Used Car ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Full Scale Tests ◽  
Prototype Design ◽  
Crush Zone

As part of the passenger equipment crashworthiness research, sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration and supported by the Volpe Center, passenger coach and cab cars have been tested in inline collision conditions. The purpose of these tests was to establish baseline levels of crashworthiness performance for the conventional equipment and demonstrate the minimum achievable levels of enhancement using performance based alternatives. The alternative strategy pursued is the application of the crash energy management design philosophy. The goal is to provide a survivable volume where no intrusion occurs so that passengers can safely ride out the collision or derailment. In addition, lateral buckling and override modes of deformation are prevented from occurring. This behavior is contrasted with that observed from both full scale tests recently conducted and historical accidents where both lateral buckling and/or override occurs for conventionally designed equipment. A prototype crash energy management coach car design has been developed and successfully tested in two full-scale tests. The design showed significant improvements over the conventional equipment similarly tested. The prototype design had to meet several key requirements including: it had to fit within the same operational volume of a conventional car, it had to be retrofitted onto a previously used car, and it had to be able to absorb a prescribed amount of energy within a maximum allowable crush distance. To achieve the last requirement, the shape of the force crush characteristic had to have tiered force plateaus over prescribed crush distances to allow for crush to be passed back from one crush zone to another. The distribution of crush along the consist length allows for significantly higher controlled energy absorption which results in higher safe closing speeds.

scholarly journals The integration of emerging omics approaches to advance precision medicine: How can regulatory science help?

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 295-300
Author(s):  
Joan E. Adamo ◽  
Robert V. Bienvenu ◽  
F. Owen Fields ◽  
Soma Ghosh ◽  
Christina M. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Next Generation Sequencing ◽  
Precision Medicine ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Regulatory Science ◽  
Translational Science ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Clinical Validity ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Building on the recent advances in next-generation sequencing, the integration of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other approaches hold tremendous promise for precision medicine. The approval and adoption of these rapidly advancing technologies and methods presents several regulatory science considerations that need to be addressed. To better understand and address these regulatory science issues, a Clinical and Translational Science Award Working Group convened the Regulatory Science to Advance Precision Medicine Forum. The Forum identified an initial set of regulatory science gaps. The final set of key findings and recommendations provided here address issues related to the lack of standardization of complex tests, preclinical issues, establishing clinical validity and utility, pharmacogenomics considerations, and knowledge gaps.

Design Concepts for the Next Generation of High-Speed Diesel-Electric Locomotives

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Tunna ◽  
Jingjun Zhang ◽  
Adrian Gorski
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
High Speed Diesel ◽  
Unsprung Mass

The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) Section 305 Next Generation Equipment Committee’s specification for diesel-electric locomotives has several challenging requirements. Among these is limiting P2 Force to 82,000 pound force (lbf) at 125 miles per hour (mph). To achieve this, the locomotive designer would have to balance unsprung mass and axle load. A design envelope exists within which that balance can be achieved. Advanced designs of traction and braking systems are required, and attention has to be paid to minimizing the overall mass of the locomotive.

scholarly journals Next-generation HLA typing of 382 International Histocompatibility Working Group reference B-lymphoblastoid cell lines: Report from the 17th International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshop

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (7) ◽  
pp. 449-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa E. Creary ◽  
Sandra G. Guerra ◽  
Winnie Chong ◽  
Colin J. Brown ◽  
Thomas R. Turner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Hla Typing ◽  
Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines ◽  
Next Generation

Thermomechanical Interaction Between Thin Bare-Die Package and Thermal Solution in Next-Generation Mobile Computing Platforms

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aastha Uppal ◽  
Jerrod Peterson ◽  
Je-Young Chang ◽  
Xi Guo ◽  
Frank Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Parameters ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Mobile Platforms ◽  
Robust Modeling ◽  
Modeling Methodology ◽  
Bga Packages ◽  
Thermal Solution ◽  
Computing Platforms ◽  
And Performance ◽  
On Chip

The demands for both thinner bare-die ball grid array (BGA) packages and thinner thermal solutions have added complexity for the thermal enabling design and material options associated with system on chip packages in mobile personal computer (PC) platforms. The thermomechanical interactions between the bare-die package and the thermal solution are very critical, creating the needs for: (1) an in-depth thermomechanical characterization to understand their impacts on product quality and performance and (2) a simple and yet robust modeling methodology to analyze design parameters using a commercially available software. In this paper, experimental metrologies and modeling methodology are developed with the details of contents documented. Validation of the newly developed tools and recommendation/guidance are also discussed for detailed assessments of thermomechanical tradeoffs for optimal design spaces for next-generation mobile platforms.

Evaluation of a Unique Chamber for a Beef Carcass Cleaning Unit1,2

1982 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. ANDERSON ◽  
R. T. MARSHALL ◽  
W. C. STRINGER ◽  
H. D. NAUMANN
Keyword(s):  
Red Meat ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Design Criteria ◽  
Basic Design ◽  
Water Droplets ◽  
Beef Carcass ◽  
The Doors

Our objective was to develop basic design criteria for use in fabricating a functional chamber for a red meat carcass cleaning unit. Emphasis was placed on eliminating the doors. A model carcass cleaning chamber was constructed to test effects of selected design parameters on direction and velocity of airflow. Based on data from the tests using the model, a full-scale chamber with no doors was designed, fabricated, and installed in a commercial packing plant for testing. The air moves into the chamber at both the entrance and the exit. This movement of air into the chamber prevents water droplets entrained in the air from escaping into the slaughtering area and causing condensation on the walls and roof.

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