Effects of Stacking Configuration on Impact Resistance of Electric Locomotive Coupling Protective Covers Reinforced by CFRP, GFRP, and Their Hybrids.

In the context of global environmental pollution and energy shortages, the use of lightweight designs of railway vehicles has become a key technological approach to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The use of lightweight and high-strength materials such as carbon-fiber-reinforced composites to replace traditional metal vehicle structures holds great application potential. In this study, random track loads and ballast impact loads that may occur during service were considered, and a finite-element model of the electric locomotive coupling protective cover was established. The impact resistance of CFRP, GFRP, and their interlayer hybrid configurations (C/G/C and G/C/G) against structural and ballast impacts were investigated. The calculation results showed that the CFRP protective cover exhibited the best structural impact resistance (with the lowest Tsai-Wu strength failure values), but it also had the largest maximum deformation displacement (2.36 mm) under ballast impact conditions. In contrast, the GFRP protective cover had a higher Tsai-Wu strength failure value, indicating that it had worse structural impact resistance, but it had a lower maximum deformation displacement (2.20 mm) under ballast impact conditions, demonstrating superior ballast impact resistance. The impact resistances of the hybrid-layered protective covers fell between those of the CFRP and GFRP in terms of the structural impact, while their ballast-impact resistance surpassed those of single-fiber configurations.