5AT FDCs

Fundamental Design Calculations for 5AT Advanced Steam Locomotive


Introduction: Funding was obtained at the start of the project for undertaking the Fundamental Design Calculations (FDCs) for the 5AT locomotive. This task was completed by David Wardale in 2004 after some two and a half years of work.  It is instructive to read Dave Wardale’s summary of his work which are presented on a separate page.

The Fundamental Design Calculations cover the basic engineering design for the locomotive, and form the technical foundation from which the detailed design and manufacturing drawings etc will be undertaken. The FDCs are extremely detailed and in the case of the most critical items such as the reciprocating components, they extend almost to the level of “detail design”.

The introductory “General Calculations” which define the performance criteria upon which the remaining FDCs are based, are reproduced on this website. Several notes are included relating to these pages, some describing criteria or suppositions upon which individual FDCs have been based, others summarizing conclusions that have been derived from the calculations.

Summary of FDC Calculations: A summary of completed calculations is tabulated below:

Item No Description No of Pages* Lines of Calcs Notes
FDC 1 General Calculations (see note)
FDC 1.1 Determination of Target Power & Tractive Effort – Speed Characteristics 4 51 Latest update 26 Aug 2002; Posted on website.
FDC 1.2 Determination of Target Load – Speed – Gradient Curves 2 16 Latest update 26 Aug 2002; Posted on website.
FDC 1.3b Preliminary Basic Calculations amendment (b) 13 268 Latest update 22 Jan 2007; Posted on website.
FDC 1.3.F.Rev2 Preliminary Basic Calculations (final version) Rev 2 14 269 Latest update 21 Jan 2007; Posted on website.
FDC 1.4 Tractive Effort Diagrams 10 79 Latest update 3 Jul 2004; Posted on website
FDC 2 Reciprocating Components of the Engine and Drive Gear
FDC 2.1 Pistons, Rings Rods and Tail Rods 27 520 Latest update 14 Apr 2003
FDC 2.2 Crosshead and Slidebars 11 228 Latest update 3 Jul 2003
FDC 2.3 Connecting Rods 18 375 Latest update 16 Mar 2003
FDC 3 Crankpins, Coupling Rods, Driving & Coupled Axles, and Crankpin & Axle Roller Bearings 21 420 Latest update 3 Jul 2004
FDC 4 Piston Valves, Valve Rings, Valve Spindles and Packings (see notes) 21 500 Latest update 5 Jul 2003
FDC 5 Valve Gear 31 694 Completed 23 June 2003
FDC 6 Cylinders and Cylinder Liners 12 228 Latest update 3 Jul 2004
FDC 7 Valve Liner Cooling Steam Calculations 10 180 Completed 13 Mar 2004
FDC 8 Wheel Balancing (see notes) 11 146 Latest update 30 Apr 2004
FDC 9 Feedwater Heating (see notes) 9 147 Last update 22 Aug 2003
FDC 10 Combustion Air Heating 7 136 Completed 19 Aug 2003
FDC 11 Boiler
FDC 11.1 Boiler Strength (see notes) 21 334 Completed 28 Feb 2004
FDC 11.2 Boiler Combustion System 12 130 Completed 28 Nov 2003
FDC 11.3 Combustion Gas + Steam Flow and Heat Transfer 38 996 Completed 28 Feb 2004
FDC 12 Exhaust System (see notes) 16 347 Completed 12 Apr 2004
FDC 13 Spring Rigging (see notes) 10 164 Last updated 2 Aug 2004
FDC 14 Mainframe 22 237 Completed 4 July 2004
FDC 15 Brakes 8 88 Completed 11 Aug 2004
FDC 16 Leading Bogie + Engine Stability 13 165 Completed 6 Nov 2004
FDC 17 Specification of Proprietary Equipment 9 91 Completed 20 Oct 2004
FDC 18 Performance Predictions (see notes) 8 150 Completed 22 Feb 2005
TOTALS 364 6691 [* page totals exclude illustrations but include listings of references.]