Innovative Stainless Steel Applications in transport ... - Euro Inox

1.4 Future potential
Future prospects for stainless steel in rail and bus applications are expected to focus
around two axes: the development of work-hardened stainless steel fabricated
components and the greater use of ferritic grades. Ferritic stainless steel has also been
tested successfully for structural applications. In this context, another aspect of
innovation has been the increasing use of mechanical fasteners. This was inspired by the
concept of modular design, which makes future refurbishment easier and less costly.
Figures 23 and 24. Experimental structure
and wall of a railway carriage in laser-cut
ferritic stainless steel hollow sections, using a
mechanical fastening technique (Pauly 2007).
An example of the weightsaving potential of stainless steel can be found in the U.S.,
where the Department of Energy is supporting an R&D project of a prototype, hybrid
electric, ultra-light, stainless steel, 40-foot urban bus. This bus features a low-floor
monocoque-type structure, four-wheel independent suspension (with no interior
intrusion for axle clearance) and a front-frame crush zone to improve occupant safety in
the event of a collision. The bus has an estimated curb weight of only 4,400 kg, which
represents a mass reduction of 64 % compared to conventional buses and thus improves
passenger-carrying payload and fuel economy.
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Figure 25. Rear view of an ultra-light,
stainless steel, hybrid electric transit bus
being developed under a DOE/industry
partnership (Fisher 2008).