Development of an experimental facility for measuring pressure waves generated by high-speed trains

An experimental facility was developed for investigating pressure waves generated by high-speed trains. The facility launches a 1/30 scale model conforming to the actual shape of the train and enables measurements to be carried out with the same geometric configurations at full scale The train models. are launched using compressed air. A mathematical model is developed to predict the performance of the experimental facility. This model allows the optimum values of the design parameters of the facility to be determined in order to achieve a given target velocity and to control the launching velocity by adjusting the pressure of the compressed air. Measurement of the flow in the experimental facility shows that the facility performs as designed by the mathematical model and is capable of launching a train model at velocities greater than 500 km/h. Pressure waves generated by a train moving into a tunnel are measured, and the experimental data agree well with field measurements. The effect of the train nose on the strength and form of the pressure waves is also discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.