Effects of infrastructure on the aerodynamic performance of a high-speed train

Abstract

The aerodynamic characteristics of typical high-speed train can be affected by the operating infrastructure, which will affect the flow structure around train body. Five different infrastructure scenarios, including no infrastructure, flat ground, embankment, viaduct and truss bridge, are systemically studied. The purpose is to examine the uncertainties of aerodynamic coefficients caused by the infrastructure. Attention is drawn to variations of aerodynamic coefficients at certain yaw angles caused by the changes in crosswind and train speed. The middle car is chosen for quantifying the effects of five infrastructures by using wind tunnel test and numerical simulations, then followed by a detailed study on aerodynamic characteristics of three cars of train running on viaduct. Pressure distributions are also drawn for a better interpretation. Result shows that the uncertainties in aerodynamic coefficients becomes more obvious as the infrastructure gets complex and yaw angles get bigger. The aerodynamic coefficients of three cars with the viaduct scenario show the similar uncertainties, which are mostly affected by the change in crosswind rather than the train speed.