Numerical Study of the Aerodynamic Performance of a Train with a Crosswind for Different Embankment Heights

Journal article, 2021

A numerical study using improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) was used to investigate the influence of the embankment height on the aerodynamic performance of a high-speed train travelling under the influence of a crosswind. The results of the flow predictions were used to explore both the instantaneous and the time-averaged flows and the resulting aerodynamic forces, moments and slipstreams. An increase of the aerodynamic drag and side forces as well as the lift force of the head and middle cars were observed with rising embankment height. While the lift force of the tail car decreased with the increasing embankment height. Furthermore, the height of the embankment was found to have a strong influence on the slipstream on the leeward side of the train. The correlation between the embankment height and the slipstream velocity on the windward side, was rather small. The flow structures in the near-wake of the leeward side of the train, responsible for the aerodynamic properties of the train were analyzed, showing strong dependency on the embankment height.