Vehicle body and manufacturing method

1. A method of manufacturing a vehicle body, comprising:

coupling a frame assembly to a platform, wherein the platform is in a cambered and unloaded condition, and wherein the frame assembly is in a flat and un-cambered condition, the step of coupling the frame assembly to the platform including:

breaking a tack weld between at least one frame member of the frame assembly and a slip joint plate of the frame assembly to permit a degree of play between the at least one frame member and the slip joint plate;

sliding the slip joint plate relative to the at least one frame member to place the slip joint plate in flat registration with the platform at coupling points with the platform;

securing the slip joint plate to the platform; and securing coupling points between the slip joint plate and the at least one frame member to eliminate the degree of play between the slip joint plate and the at least one frame member and thereby to provide substantially zero residual stress in the vehicle body in the cambered condition.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the substantially zero residual stress in the vehicle body is substantially zero residual stress in components of the body that are operationally load bearing.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: loading the platform so as to change the platform condition to an uncambered and loaded condition.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein: loading the platform includes adding a dead load to the platform such that the summation of a calculated dead load stress and an operational stress is approximately 100% of an allowable stress in the vehicle body.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: pre-determining a magnitude of camber in the platform through finite element analysis.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the platform includes a plurality of distinct sections and is assembled in the cambered condition in a fixture.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the frame assembly is coupled to the platform at a fixture, the fixture having a plurality of vertical stops corresponding to a magnitude of camber in the platform.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the frame assembly includes a plurality of distinct sidewall sections, the distinct sections each being coupled to the platform individually.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

coupling at least one of the plurality of distinct sidewall sections to another of the plurality of distinct sidewall sections, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of distinct sidewall sections has a degree of play at sidewall coupling points with the another of the distinct sidewall sections; and

securing the sidewall coupling points to eliminate the degree of play and thereby to provide substantially zero residual stress in the vehicle body in the cambered condition.

10. A method of manufacturing a rail vehicle body, comprising:

coupling a rail vehicle frame assembly to a rail vehicle platform, wherein the platform is in a cambered and unloaded condition, and wherein the frame assembly is in a flat and un-cambered condition, the step of coupling the frame assembly to the platform including:

breaking a tack weld between at least one frame member of the frame assembly and a slip joint plate of the frame assembly to permit a degree of play between the at least one frame member and the slip joint plate;

sliding the slip joint plate relative to the at least one frame member to place the slip joint plate in flat registration with the platform at coupling points with the platform;

securing the slip joint plate to the platform; and securing coupling points between the slip joint plate and the at least one frame member to eliminate the degree of play between the slip joint plate and the at least one frame member and thereby to provide substantially zero residual stress in the vehicle body in the cambered condition.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein: the substantially zero residual stress in the vehicle body is substantially zero residual stress in components of the body that are operationally load bearing.

12. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising: loading the platform so as to change the platform condition to an uncambered and loaded condition.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein: loading the platform includes adding a dead load to the platform such that the summation of a calculated dead load stress and an operational stress is approximately 100% of an allowable stress in the vehicle body.

14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising: pre-determining a magnitude of camber in the platform through finite element analysis.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein: the platform includes a plurality of distinct sections and is assembled in the cambered condition in a fixture.

16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein: the frame assembly is coupled to the platform at a fixture, the fixture having a plurality of vertical stops corresponding to a magnitude of camber in the platform.

17. The method according to claim 10 , wherein: the frame assembly includes a plurality of distinct sidewall sections, the distinct sections each being coupled to the platform individually.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:

coupling at least one of the plurality of distinct sidewall sections to another of the plurality of distinct sidewall sections, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of distinct sidewall sections has a degree of play at sidewall coupling points with the another of the distinct sidewall sections; and

securing the sidewall coupling points to eliminate the degree of play and thereby to provide substantially zero residual stress in the vehicle body in the cambered condition.