Measurement of wind barrier protection performance using a novel large-scale wind tunnel experimental methodology with complementary numerical simulations: A case study of the innovative diffusible diversion wind barrier

Journal article, 2026

This study introduces a hybrid approach for large-scale size model research on wind barriers with detailed structures, aimed at assessing the wind barrier's performance on railway bridges. The approach uses a novel large-scale wind tunnel setup and method for experimentation at Reynolds number Re = 1 × 10⁶, alongside complementary numerical simulations using an Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation method based on the Shear-Stress Transport k–ω turbulence model to model the flow around the wind barrier and train. As a demonstration, the study employs this methodology to examine a new diffusible diversion wind barrier (DDWB) with detailed structural features and its enhanced protection performance compared to an original porous wind barrier (OPWB). The results demonstrate that the method effectively improves both the level of structural detail in wind barrier models and the dimensionality of flow field measurements in wind tunnel experiments, while the matched numerical simulations offer further analysis of the mechanisms behind the protection enhancements. By comparing data from the DDWB and OPWB, the large-scale measurement extends experimental acquisition to three aspects: aerodynamic loads, flow characteristics upstream and downstream of the barrier, and surface pressure distribution on the train. The DDWB reduces the windwardleeward pressure difference by 29.49% and decreases lateral force and overturning moment by 25.62% and 9.04%, respectively, through optimized flow characteristics downstream. Meanwhile, numerical simulations help understand vortex distribution and dissipation around the wind barrier and train. The downstream vorticity of the DDWB shows greater organization with more turbulent kinetic energy production and dissipation, explaining how the DDWB reduces crosswind kinetic energy.