Numerical study on the restriction speed of train passing curved rail in cross wind

The results of numerical investigations of aerodynamic forces and moment coefficients of flow passing a simplified train geometry under different wind speeds are summarized. To compute numerically the different coefficients, the three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, combined with the κ-ε turbulence model, were solved using finite volume technique. The pressure-velocity fields were coupled using the SIMPLE algorithm. At each iteration the pressure correction was obtained by solving a velocity divergence-derived Poisson-like equation. With the computed aerodynamic forces, the formula of the restriction speed at which the train passed curved rail in cross wind was deduced to analyse the influences of aerodynamic forces on the restriction speed. Results of numerical investigations showed that aerodynamic lift and overturn moment increased more and more rapidly with train speed and wind speed. The enhancement trends showed nonlinear phenomena and enhanced risk in the course of train movement. When the train travels at a high speed and encounters a huge cross wind, the influence involved by nonlinear risk increment will extremely impair safety of train. The following conclusion can also be drawn: The effect of aerodynamic lift makes restriction speed reduce, however, the influences of aerodynamic drag to the limit train speed rest on the direction of wind flow. When the wind blows from inner rail to outer rail, aerodynamic forces shall reduce the restriction speed, by contraries, when the wind blows from outer rail to inner rail, aerodynamic forces shall increase the restriction speed. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50078006, 50678176) and the National Basic Research Program of China (“973” Project) (Grant No. 2007CB714706)