Design and Mechanical Properties Analysis of Variable Buffer-Force Planing Energy-Absorbing Device for Rail Vehicles

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript is about developing a variable buffer force planing device for energy absorption during rail collisions. The following points can be considered before further processing the manuscript.

1. Abstract has to be rewritten by including some salient experimental/simulation results.

2. Most of the references used for problem identification are way too old. Authors have to use only recent references for problem identification (preferably last 5 years)

3. Authors have to extensively correct the manuscript for language and grammar with the help of a native English speaker.

4. Software version and license number may be included for Abaqus software.

5. Novelty of the work has to be more clearly stated in the introduction section.

6. Conclusion may contain some numerical values taken from the experimental/simulation test results.

Author Response

Dear reviewer 1

Tank you very much for your comments, we revised the paper (RESPONSE- Design and mechanical performance analysis of vari -  .docx) and respond below(marked red).

Best wishes.

-All authors

Open Review

( ) I would not like to sign my review report

(x) I would like to sign my review report

English language and style

( ) English very difficult to understand/incomprehensible

(x) Extensive editing of English language and style required

( ) Moderate English changes required

( ) English language and style are fine/minor spell check required

( ) I don't feel qualified to judge about the English language and style

Yes Can be improved Must be improved Not applicable

Does the introduction provide sufficient background and include all relevant references?

( ) ( ) (x) ( )

Are all the cited references relevant to the research?

(x) ( ) ( ) ( )

Is the research design appropriate?

(x) ( ) ( ) ( )

Are the methods adequately described?

(x) ( ) ( ) ( )

Are the results clearly presented?

(x) ( ) ( ) ( )

Are the conclusions supported by the results?

(x) ( ) ( ) ( )

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript is about developing a variable buffer force planing device for energy absorption during rail collisions. The following points can be considered before further processing the manuscript.

1. Abstract has to be rewritten by including some salient experimental/simulation results.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

We revised the abstract in the manuscript.

The collision of rail transit vehicles is unavoidable. In order to alleviate the disaster caused by the collision, energy-absorbing and shock-absorbing materials are generally installed at the front end of the rail vehicle. In this paper, a variable buffer force planing energy-absorbing device for rail transit vehicles was prepared. The buffer force was changed by length (D_x), angle (A)and thickness(W). First, we manufactured one type material, and test date was obtained. Second, we used Ls-DYNA to simulate the process this material, and found the accuracy between the simulation and the test. Third, various parameters material were simulated by Ls-DYNA. The results showed change D_x will greatly affect the performance of the material, W is not obvious affect the performance, and A is important for the property. Based on finite element simulation, the functional model relationship between the average force and various parameters in the process of material deformation. It lays the groundwork for the application of the variable buffer force planing energy absorbing device.

2. Most of the references used for problem identification are way too old. Authors have to use only recent references for problem identification (preferably last 5 years)

Response：Thanks to the comments.

We cited new references in the draft, thanks again. The new references are shown as follows.

• Energy-absorbing mechanism and crashworthiness performance of thin-walled tubes diagonally filled with rib-reinforced foam blocks under axial crushing

[13]Energy Absorption of Aluminium Extrusions Filled with Cellular Materials Under Axial Crushing: Study of the Interaction Effect

[14]Static Compressive Properties of Polypropylene Fiber Foam Concrete with Concave Hexagonal Unit Cell

[15]Study of the Compression Behavior of Steel-Fiber Reinforced Concrete by Means of the Response Surface Methodology

[29]Parametric beam-based crashworthiness optimisation for the crush zone of a subway vehicle

[30]Improve the frontal crashworthiness of vehicle through the design of front rail

3. Authors have to extensively correct the manuscript for language and grammar with the help of a native English speaker.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

We amend our paper carefully and have english polished.

4. Software version and license number may be included for Abaqus software.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

We add software version.

5. Novelty of the work has to be more clearly stated in the introduction section.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

In this paper, a variable buffer force planing energy-absorbing device for rail vehicles is prepared, which is intended to be used as the anti creeping energy absorber of the train. By studying different structural dimensions, the influence parameter on the mechanical properties and the functional relationship are finally derived, laying a foundation for better design of materials.

6. Conclusion may contain some numerical values taken from the experimental/simulation test results.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

We revised the conclusion in the manuscript.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Wei et al. have presented the manuscript titled: Design and Mechanical Properties Analysis of Variable Buffer Force Planning Energy-absorbing Device for Rail Vehicles. Overall presentation of the article is good, and author has provided the detailed study. I just have few suggestions for the authors about this article.

1.      In the abstract portion I suggest the authors to highlight their calculation regarding this research. They have just mentioned the problem statement in the abstract.

2.      There are several spelling and grammar mistakes in the introduction section, please revise the article by native English speaker.

3.      Line 57, 58, Authors have written” Choi focused on the analysis of the impact of the cone angle of the hammer head and the impact speed on the energy absorption mechanism” what outcomes have they received? Please mention their analysis.

4.      Line 67, 68, “many scholars have proposed new structures based on this energy-67 absorbing principle, such as Gao Guangjun, Lei Cheng, Liu Guowei, Li Ming, etc.”, in my suggestion it will be better to discuss their research work rather than mentioning their name.

5.      The method of writing introduction section is not strong, please revise it.

Author Response

Dear reviewer 2

Tank you very much for your comments, we revised the paper (RESPONSE- Design and mechanical performance analysis of vari -  .docx) and respond below(marked blue).

Best wishes.

-All authors

Open Review

( ) I would not like to sign my review report

(x) I would like to sign my review report

English language and style

( ) English very difficult to understand/incomprehensible

(x) Extensive editing of English language and style required

( ) Moderate English changes required

( ) English language and style are fine/minor spell check required

( ) I don't feel qualified to judge about the English language and style

Yes Can be improved Must be improved Not applicable

Does the introduction provide sufficient background and include all relevant references?

( ) ( ) (x) ( )

Are all the cited references relevant to the research?

( ) ( ) (x) ( )

Is the research design appropriate?

( ) (x) ( ) ( )

Are the methods adequately described?

(x) ( ) ( ) ( )

Are the results clearly presented?

( ) (x) ( ) ( )

Are the conclusions supported by the results?

( ) (x) ( ) ( )

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Wei et al. have presented the manuscript titled: Design and Mechanical Properties Analysis of Variable Buffer Force Planning Energy-absorbing Device for Rail Vehicles. Overall presentation of the article is good, and author has provided the detailed study. I just have few suggestions for the authors about this article.

1.In the abstract portion I suggest the authors to highlight their calculation regarding this research. They have just mentioned the problem statement in the abstract.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

We revised the abstract in the manuscript.

The collision of rail transit vehicles is unavoidable. In order to alleviate the disaster caused by the collision, energy-absorbing and shock-absorbing materials are generally installed at the front end of the rail vehicle. In this paper, a variable buffer force planing energy-absorbing device for rail transit vehicles was prepared. The buffer force was changed by length (D_x), angle (A)and thickness(W). First, we manufactured one type material, and test date was obtained. Second, we used Ls-DYNA to simulate the process this material, and found the accuracy between the simulation and the test. Third, various parameters material were simulated by Ls-DYNA. The results showed change D_x will greatly affect the performance of the material, W is not obvious affect the performance, and A is important for the property. Based on finite element simulation, the functional model relationship between the average force and various parameters in the process of material deformation. It lays the groundwork for the application of the variable buffer force planing energy absorbing device.

2. There are several spelling and grammar mistakes in the introduction section, please revise the article by native English speaker.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

We amend our paper carefully and have english polished.

3. Line 57, 58, Authors have written” Choi focused on the analysis of the impact of the cone angle of the hammer head and the impact speed on the energy absorption mechanism” what outcomes have they received? Please mention their analysis.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

Choi focused on the analysis of the impact of the cone angle of the hammer head and the impact speed on the energy absorption mechanism of the expander structure, it shows cone angle has influence on energy absorption.

4.Line 67, 68, “many scholars have proposed new structures based on this energy-67 absorbing principle, such as Gao Guangjun, Lei Cheng, Liu Guowei, Li Ming, etc.”, in my suggestion it will be better to discuss their research work rather than mentioning their name.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

Gao Guangjun: semi-closed decompression domain formed by the outer wall of the inner arched plate and the inner wall of the enlarged cross-section tunnel hood, the novel hood can further dissipate the energy of the initial compression wave.

The influence of relevant parameters on the energy absorption capacity of the structure is analyzed in detail, so we discuss their research work shortly. Also we delete some old references and add some new references.

5.The method of writing introduction section is not strong, please revise it.

Response：Thanks to the comments.

We revised the draft carefully.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Authors have improved the manuscript according to suggestions, there are few things still lacking;

1.       Line 61, Page 2, “Choi focused on 61 the analysis………….[19]”, but in the reference section, reference is different. Where is the reference of Choi?

Similarly, “James developed an energy-68 absorbing device for cutting 6061………..”, where is this reference in the reference section?

“Lee, Xia obtained the cutting force calculation 88 formula……….[23]”, but reference 23 is wrong not this?

“Tyrell, Lewis applied 109 the variable buffer…….[28-30]” again references don’t possess this?

2.       Why is the Figure 4 (a-d) not clear? Please comment can it be brighter?

3.       X, y axis of Figure 6 (a, b) are not clear, please re-modify the picture and make the axis values visible. Same in Figure 7 (b, d), 8, 11 and 12

4.       It will be better to combine the Figure 9 and 10 if you have to use them at same spot. Make their axis clearer.

5.       Section 4.3: “study the change of material properties when the W value changes (Table 4)….”, what is the reason that initially the average force values changes and after w=40 it remained consistent? Describe the reason?

6.       In section 4.4; “study the change of material properties when the A value changes (Table 5). As A increases, the average force of the material decreases 301 gradually.”, authors should also highlight and demonstrate the reason of such change rather than just description.

7.       In the conclusion section, it more looks like the discussion, why authors have not mentioned the results (values) of their findings?

Author Response

Dear editor and reviewer 2: Thanks again for giving us this chance to revise our paper, we appreciate you very much for your positive and constructive comments and suggestions on our manuscript (response 2- applsci-2098610 ). We have studied reviewer’s comments carefully and have made revision which marked in purple in the paper. We have tried our best to revise our manuscript according to the comments. Attached please find the revised version, which we would like to submit for your kind consideration. We would like to express our great appreciation to you and reviewers for comments on our paper. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you and best regards. Yours sincerely, All authors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf