NTL Record

Title The aerodynamic effects of passing trains to surrounding objects and people
Record ID 34411
Personal Name
Creator
Lee, Harvey Shui-Hong
Source 287p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration; John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
Publication Date 20090400
Language English
Abstract Two safety issues are raised on the aerodynamic effects of a passing train on its surroundings. First, a high-speed train passing other trains on an adjacent track exerts aerodynamic pressure that can affect the structural integrity of window mount and glazing, and the stability of the railroad car being passed. Second, as a high-speed train passes train stations immediately adjacent to the platform without stopping, people and objects on these station platforms are exposed to strong airflow causing debris and objects to be blown about and people to potentially lose their balance. This safety issue also extends to railroad workers on trackside as a high-speed train passes. The objective of the research was to obtain aerodynamic data on passing trains, and to assess its effects on other trains being passed, as well as on people in proximity to the passing trains. The study entailed both numerical simulation and experimentation. Numerical simulation included both simple single degree-of-freedom dynamics models, and more complex computational fluid dynamics and multi-body simulation models. Experimentation involved full-scale testing of a rail car passed by a high-speed train on an adjacent track, and measurement of train-induced airflow and forces on cylindrical dummies from a passing train.
Rosap ID dot:34608
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/34608
TRT Terms Aerodynamic force; Drag; Fluid dynamics; High speed ground transportation; High speed rail; Passing
General Subjects Double stack container cars; Railroad platforms; Transient loads
Classification NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - High Speed Ground Transportation;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Safety
Geographical
Coverage
United States
OCLC 429356558
TRIS Online
Accession No
1142759
Contract Number BB049/RR93
Report Number DOT-VNTSC-FRA-04-05; DOT/FRA/ORD/09-07
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/34000/34400/34411/DOT-VNTSC-FRA-04-05.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository