Full-scale experiment of transient aerodynamic pressures acting on a bridge noise barrier induced by the passage of high-speed trains operating at 380-420 km/h

Transient aerodynamic pressures induced by the passage of high-speed trains past noise barriers can result in noise barrier damage. This issue is investigated experimentally in the present study by applying pressure sensors to measure the transient aerodynamic pressures acting on the inner surface (close to the railway track) of a 2.15-m high straight-type noise barrier arising from the passage of two different full-scale high-speed trains with different streamlined head cars operating at a speed of 380-420 km/h. The results demonstrate that the amplitudes of transient aerodynamic pressures acting on the inner surface of the noise barrier are greatest at the bottom of the noise barrier, and the pressure decreases with increasing height along the barrier. In addition, the dynamic characteristics of the aerodynamic loads are investigated using the fast Fourier transform algorithm. The main frequencies of the transient aerodynamic pressures observed over the train speed range considered are found to be proportional to the train speed and inversely proportional to the single-car length. Moreover, the results of analysis indicate that noise barrier damage can be minimized over the train speed range considered by building noise barriers with natural frequencies residing outside of the 4.21-4.74 Hz range.