Effect of the inter-car gap length on the aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed train

Author(s):  
Tian Li ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Jiye Zhang

In wind tunnel experiments, the inter-car gaps are designed in such a way as to separate the force measurements for each car and prevent the interference between cars during tests. Moreover, the inter-car gap has a significant effect on the aerodynamic drag of a train. In order to guide the design of the inter-car gaps between cars in wind tunnel experiments, the impact of the inter-car gap length on the aerodynamic characteristics of a 1/8th scale high-speed train is investigated using computational fluid dynamics. The shear stress transport k-ω model is used to simulate the flow around a high-speed train. The aerodynamic characteristics of the train with 10 different inter-car gap lengths are numerically simulated and compared. The 10 different inter-car gap lengths are 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 80 mm. Results indicate that the aerodynamic drag coefficients obtained using computational fluid dynamics fit the experimental data well. Rapid pressure variations appear in the upper and lower parts of the inter-car gaps. With the increase of the inter-car gap length, the drag force coefficient of the head car gradually increases. The total drag force coefficients of the trains with the inter-car gap length less than 10 mm are practically equal to those of the trains without inter-car gaps. Therefore, it can be concluded from the present study that 10 mm is recommended as the inter-car gap length for the 1/8th scale high-speed train models in wind tunnel experiments.

Author(s):  
Yeongbin Lee ◽  
Minho Kwak ◽  
Kyu Hong Kim ◽  
Dong-Ho Lee

In this study, the aerodynamic characteristics of pantograph system according to the pantograph cover configurations for high speed train were investigated by wind tunnel test. Wind tunnel tests were conducted in the velocity range of 20∼70m/s with scaled experimental pantograph models. The experimental models were 1/4 scaled simplified pantograph system which consists of a double upper arm and a single lower arm with a square cylinder shaped panhead. The experimental model of the pantograph cover is also 1/4 scaled and were made as 4 different configurations. It is laid on the ground plate which modeled on the real roof shape of the Korean high speed train. Using a load cell, the aerodynamic force such as a lift and a drag which were acting on pantograph system were measured and the aerodynamic effects according to the various configurations of pantograph covers were investigated. In addition, the total pressure distributions of the wake regions behind the panhead of the pantograph system were measured to investigate the variations of flow pattern. From the experimental test results, we checked that the flow patterns and the aerodynamic characteristics around the pantograph systems are varied as the pantograph cover configurations. In addition, it is also found that pantograph cover induced to decrease the aerodynamic drag and lift forces. Finally, we proposed the aerodynamic improvement of pantograph cover and pantograph system for high speed train.


2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent G. Chapin ◽  
Romaric Neyhousser ◽  
Stephane Jamme ◽  
Guillaume Dulliand ◽  
Patrick Chassaing

In this paper we propose a rational viscous Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methodology applied to sailing yacht rig aerodynamic design and analysis. After an outlook of present challenges in high speed sailing, we emphasized the necessity of innovation and CFD to conceive, validate and optimize new aero-hydrodynamic concepts. Then, we present our CFD methodology through CAD, mesh generation, numerical and physical modelling choices, and their validation on typical rig configurations through wind-tunnel test comparisons. The methodology defined, we illustrate the relevance and wide potential of advanced numerical tools to investigate sailing yacht rig design questions like the relation between sail camber, propulsive force and aerodynamic finesse, and like the mast-mainsail non linear interaction. Through these examples, it is shown how sailing yacht rig improvements may be drawn by using viscous CFD based on Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS). Then the extensive use of viscous CFD, rather than wind-tunnel tests on scale models, for the evaluation or ranking of improved designs with increased time savings. Viscous CFD methodology is used on a preliminary study of the complex and largely unknown Yves Parlier Hydraplaneur double rig. We show how it is possible to increase our understanding of his flow physics with strong sail interactions, and we hope this methodology will open new roads toward optimized design. Throughout the paper, the necessary comparison between CFD and wind-tunnel test will be presented to focus on limitations and drawbacks of viscous CFD tools, and to address future improvements.


Author(s):  
B Diedrichs

This work addresses crosswind stability exemplified for the German Railway Deutsche Bahn AG high-speed train ICE 2. The scope of the work is to describe the flow by means of computational fluid dynamics past the leading two cars of the train for yaw angles in the range 12.2–40.0°. Three track formations are utilized. The basic results are the set of independent aerodynamic coefficients for the lead and subsequent cars. The results are to some extent compared with experimental data for ICE 2 and also with data obtained for the Swedish high-speed train X2000. A numerical sensitivity study is undertaken to quantify differences in the above results dependent on the grid density and quality, turbulence model, numerical scheme, location of inlet and outlet boundaries, turbulence intensity and flow simulation software.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 613
Author(s):  
Johnathan Green ◽  
Subajan Sivandran

Demonstrating how numerical modelling, such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), can be used to validate results from detailed physical wind tunnel models of FLNG vessels and floating systems is the objective of this extended abstract. 3D rapid prototyping is used to build detailed physical wind tunnel models. This physical model (normally of an approximate scale of 1:200) is then placed in a wind tunnel facility to measure the time histories of the wind loads for a full range of wind directions and a range of drafts. CFD is then used to validate the wind tunnel modelling results. Numerical modelling can also be used to analyse a number of different issues such as the impact of turbine exhaust dispersion, and turbulence on helicopter operations and resulting helideck availability. This extended abstract discusses the importance of wind tunnel testing and numerical modelling during the design phase. The idea that numerical modelling does not replace pure theoretical or experimental results, but acts to complement them with gaining a greater overall picture, will be highlighted. Findings will be presented to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches, and highlight results such as wind shear and turbulence impacts being best calculated through wind tunnel testing. The extended abstract demonstrates that, ideally during the design process, wind tunnel testing should be followed by numerical modelling to interpolate results.


Author(s):  
J Bruce Ralphin Rose ◽  
P Saranya ◽  
JV Bibal Benifa

Design and analysis of a wind tunnel model for re-entry vehicle configuration is a prolonged and expensive mission. As the aerothermodynamics loads acting on the vehicle are based on geometry, various wind tunnel models need to be built for aerodynamic characterization by experimental procedure. Alternatively, the intention of this article is to present the influence of aerodynamic and aero acoustic characteristics of a typical re-entry capsule by computational fluid dynamics analysis. A typical re-entry capsule is designed using computational design software and it is imported to a computational fluid dynamics solver and flow simulations are done at various input conditions. Stanford University unstructured computational fluid dynamics solver is used for this purpose to solve complex, multiphysics analysis, and optimization tasks. Computational fluid dynamics results are presented to understand the influence of aerodynamic characteristics of a typical re-entry capsule, by visualizing the flow field around the command module at all the flow regimes like subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flows. The flow fields are studied in detail and regions of high flow unsteadiness due to wake separated flow zone are identified. Aeroacoustic loading on the command module at these regions especially at shock wave zone are predicted in the present investigation with high order of accuracy.


Author(s):  
M.F. Mohamed ◽  
P.L. Madhavan ◽  
E. Manoj ◽  
K. Sivakumar

The purpose of this work is to cut back the drag, lift and aerodynamic in-stability of a sedan car at high speed levels. In early times, the cars accustomed have a flat faces, sharp edge, conjointly had higher mileage and potency. However later because of the emergence of fuel crisis, scientists improved the model of cars with regard to dynamics of the fluid around the body. Thus, it changes the structure of cars with respect to aeromechanics. Simulation of a vehicle had been done using computational fluid dynamics to obtain the coefficient of drag and coefficient of lift. Finally, these coefficients from computational fluid dynamics are compared wind tunnel simulation.


Author(s):  
R. D. Burke ◽  
C. D. Copeland ◽  
T. Duda ◽  
M. A. Rayes-Belmote

One-dimensional wave-action engine models have become an essential tool within engine development including stages of component selection, understanding system interactions, and control strategy development. Simple turbocharger models are seen as a weak link in the accuracy of these simulation tools, and advanced models have been proposed to account for phenomena including heat transfer. In order to run within a full engine code, these models are necessarily simple in structure yet are required to describe a highly complex 3D problem. This paper aims to assess the validity of one of the key assumptions in simple heat transfer models, namely, that the heat transfer between the compressor casing and intake air occurs only after the compression process. Initially, a sensitivity study was conducted on a simple lumped capacity thermal model of a turbocharger. A new partition parameter was introduced αA, which divides the internal wetted area of the compressor housing into pre- and postcompression. The sensitivity of heat fluxes to αA was quantified with respect to the sensitivity to turbine inlet temperature (TIT). At low speeds, the TIT was the dominant effect on compressor efficiency, whereas at high speed αA had a similar influence to TIT. However, modeling of the conduction within the compressor housing using an additional thermal resistance caused changes in heat flows of less than 10%. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was undertaken using a number of cases approximating different values of αA. It was seen that when considering a case similar to αA = 0, meaning that heat transfer on the compressor side is considered to occur only after the compression process, significant temperature could build up in the impeller area of the compressor housing, indicating the importance of the precompression heat path. The 3D simulation was used to estimate a realistic value for αA which was suggested to be between 0.15 and 0.3. Using a value of this magnitude in the lumped capacitance model showed that at low speed there would be less than 1% point effect on apparent efficiency which would be negligible compared to the 8% point seen as a result of TIT. In contrast, at high speeds, the impact of αA was similar to that of TIT, both leading to approximately 1% point apparent efficiency error.


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