The aerodynamic effects of passing trains to surrounding objects and people

011427594293565582009Final report; April 2009PDFTech ReportDOT-VNTSC-FRA-04-05; DOT/FRA/ORD/09-07BB049/RR93Aerodynamic forceDragFluid dynamicsHigh speed ground transportationHigh speed railPassingDouble stack container carsRailroad platformsTransient loadsUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationLee, Harvey Shui-HongUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-High Speed Ground TransportationNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-RAIL TRANSPORTATIONNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail SafetyVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterTwo 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