 |
| The rail-less train cars will be made of aluminum-magnesium alloy (Mg hardens Al) with lots of stiffeners for strength, almost like an airplane. If the bottom plate is 1/2 inch thick aluminum (0.1 lbs./cubic inch) and the cars are 5’ x 12’ it will amass 432 lbs. If the stiffeners amass 50% more than the bottom plate the body will amass 648 lbs. If the bottom plate is 3/4th inch thick it will amass 648 lbs. and 972 lbs. with stiffeners. If the bottom plate is 1/4th inch steel it will amass 616 lbs. and with stiffeners 924 lbs. With 3/8th inch steel 924 lbs. and 1386 lbs. with stiffeners.
The cars will all be flat beds with cargos tied down by steel cables and covered with aluminum foil. After adding up the mass of steel wheels, motors, axles, brakes, and universal joint couplers a car will amass about 1200 lbs. to 1500 lbs. if made of aluminum. They will weigh 200 to 250 lbs. on the Moon. Since KE = 0.5mV^2 A 10 car train amassing 15,000 lbs or 6818 kg. accelerating to 16 kph (10 mph) or 4.5 meters/second will need 68,428.7 joules. Since 2684 kilojoules equals one horsepower hour: 68.429 kj/2684kj = 0.025 hp hours or 92 seconds at 1 hp. That’s surprising result. Looks like we can really load up the train with 90 hp available. For ideas about construction, stiffeners, brakes, wheels, etc. see Lunar Model T and Lunar Bus |
 |