Protection Effect of Railway Wind Barrier on Running Safety of Train under Cross Winds

Abstract

The wind tunnel test is conducted to measure the wind loads of a train and the wind pressure distribution above track. The dynamic responses of vehicle are calculated by using the coupling vibration method of wind-vehicle-bridge (line) systems with the aid of the self-developed software BANSYS(Bridge Analysis System) to determine the protection effect of wind barrier. Three kinds of porosities and four kinds of heights are installed on three line structural forms. The aerodynamic mechanism of wind barriers on the railway is investigated and the effects of sudden changes of vehicle wind loads are examined by measuring the aerodynamic coefficients of a single train. The quantity of wind loads' sudden change and the dynamic responses of vehicles is considered as the input index. The protection effect of wind barrier is evaluated by data envelopment analysis (DEA) when the output is the same. The results show that the wind barrier with a certain height could increase the lift-drag ratio and is more likely to increase the lift coefficient. The method of comprehensive evaluation can be applied in the protection effect evaluation of the railway wind barrier and the comprehensive evaluation using the indexes of sudden change of vehicle wind loads is in agreement with the vehicle response index.