Analysis of Flow Structures in Different Loading Gaps of Freight Trains

Abstract

In the present work, the influence of gaps in the loading scheme of a freight train on the resulting aerodynamic drag and the associated flow structures was investigated in a reduced-scale wind-tunnel experiment. The general objective of this research project is to describe the quantitative relationship between the different loading conditions and the aerodynamic drag in order to evaluate the aerodynamic optimization of the loading scheme in rail freight transport in the energy consumption balance and to enable a cost-benefit analysis for train operators with regard to factors such as logistics and others. In the present study, particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to investigate the flow structures occurring on a test container which was attached to a generic freight train model. By varying the loading scheme, different flow situations could be observed that are characteristic of selected loading configurations. Surface-pressure measurements were also carried out in order to be able to investigate the relationship between the forces occurring on the test container and the simultaneously prevailing flow structures.