A study on fluctuating pressure load on high speed train passing through tunnels

The carbody structure of a high speed train passing through a tunnel is subjected to pressure fluctuation. Fatigue strength of the carbody structure against the fluctuating pressure loading should be proved in the design stage for safety. In this study, to get the useful information on the pressure fluctuation in the tunnel, measurement has been conducted during test running of KHST on the high speed line for two years. The measured results were analyzed and arranged to be used for carbody design. A prediction method for the magnitude and frequency of pressure change was proposed and the propagating characteristics of pressure wave was investigated. By statistical analysis for the measured results, a pressure loading spectrum for the high speed train was given. The proposed method can also be used to estimate the pressure loading spectrum for new high speed line at design stage combined with the results of train performance simulation.