Abrupt changing aerodynamic loads resulting in diminished ride comfort when two high-speed trains intersect in a tunnel

Abstract

The lateral force exerted when two trains pass each other can adversely affect train safety, and this adverse effect becomes more pronounced as the train speed increases. When trains cross paths in tunnels, the aerodynamics differ from those in open lines due to the restrictive nature of tunnel walls. Utilizing the Renormalization Group (RNG) k-ε turbulence model and the “Mosaic” grid method, this research examines changes in aerodynamic load of the train and ride comfort during a intersection at 400 km/h in a tunnel and contrasts this with conditions at 350 km/h. The results indicate that the change in aerodynamic load on each carriage is more pronounced when the head train of the oncoming train passes than when its tail train passes, with the largest variation observed during the passing of both the head and tail trains. This alteration in aerodynamic load is primarily attributed to the air being pushed in the locomotive area and the negative pressure from the vortex structure between trains. When the speed is increased from 350 km/h to 400 km/h, the aerodynamic load on the train increases by approximately 20 % to 40 %, and the acceleration of the head train grows by 20 % to 50 %. The most noticeable decrease in ride comfort is observed in the head train, with the highest increase in the head train’s Overall Vibration Total Value (OVTV), which rises by 30.1 %.