Experimental study on the influence of gust-wind on a high-speed railway train-viaduct system

Abstract

<p>As the high-speed railway emerges in Eurasia, a comprehensive understanding of the aerodynamic problems – particularly extreme wind events – is vital to the success of the safety, operational efficiency, and transportation industry. Such knowledge of the effect of extreme wind on the train and bridge system has been hindered by a lack of available field test data. In light of limited field measured data to arrive at a consensus on quantifying key parameters characterizing the non-stationarity winds, accuracy associated with wind velocities is carried out using wind tunnel experimental approaches in this study. Compared with atmospheric boundary layer winds, which are customarily treated as stationary, winds associated with gust-fronts originating from a thunderstorm/downburst/tornado exhibit rapid changes during a short period which changes in direction may accompany. To realistically capture the characteristics of gust-front winds and their attendant load effect, a new gust-wind generator was presented, built in the CSU wind tunnel. Under a condition of the combined operation between a gust-wind generator and wind tunnel, the gust-front wind characteristics and effects on the train-bridge system were analyzed.</p>