Appendix C: Procedures for Tank-Head Puncture-Resistance Testing

C1. Tank-Head Puncture-Resistance Systems

C1.1 This test procedure is designed to verify the integrity of new or untried tank-head puncture-resistance systems and to test for system survivability after coupler-to-tank head impacts at relative speeds of 29 km/h (18 mph). Tank-head puncture-resistance is a function of one or more of the following: head thickness, jacket thickness, insulation thickness, and material of manufacture.

  1. Tank-head Puncture-resistance Test — A tank-head puncture-resistance system must be tested under the following conditions: 
    1. The ram car used must be at least 119 295 kg (263 000 lb.), must be equipped with a coupler, and must duplicate the condition of a conventional draft sill including the draft yoke and draft gear. The coupler must protrude from the end of the ram car so that it is the leading location of perpendicular contact with the impacted test car;
    2. The impacted test car must be loaded with water at 6% outage with internal pressure of at least 6.9 bar (100 psi) and coupled to one or more backup cars which have a total mass of 217 724 kg (480 000 lb.) with hand brakes applied on the last backup car;
    3. At least two separate tests must be conducted with the coupler on the vertical centreline of the ram car. One test must be conducted with the coupler at a height of 53.3 ± 2.5 cm (21 ± 1 in.), above the top of the sill; the other test must be conducted with the coupler height at 79 ± 2.5 cm (31 ± 1 in.), above the top of the sill. If the combined thickness of the tank head and any additional shielding material is less than the combined thickness on the vertical centreline of the car, a third test must be conducted with the coupler positioned so as to strike the thinnest point of the tank head;
  2. One of the following test conditions must be applied:
    Mass of Attached Ram Cars, Minimum
    kg (lb)
    Velocity of Impact, Minimum
    km/h (mph)
    Restrictions
    119 295 (263 000) 29 (18) One ram car only
    155 582 (343 000) 25.5 (16) One ram car or one car plus one rigidly attached car
    311 164 (686 000) 22.5 (14) One ram car plus one or more rigidly attached cars
  3. A test is successful if there is no visible leak from the standing tank car for a minimum of one hour after impact.

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