Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation of the Slipstream and Trackside Pressure of Trains with Different Horizontal Profiles

The slipstream caused by high-speed trains may harm pedestrians and workers trackside. In general, the characteristics of the slipstream are influenced mainly by the nose shape of the train. The present study explores the slipstream caused by high-speed trains with three different horizontal nose profiles based on the results of three-dimensional, improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) with an unsteady turbulence model and a set of 1/8th scaled train models. The results obtained using this numerical methodology are in good agreement with those obtained from corresponding wind tunnel tests. The trackside pressure changes around the train models are also captured and analyzed. The analysis reveals that the width of the nose can significantly influence the magnitude and arrival time of slipstream velocity and pressure peaks. The results and proposed numerical methodology can be used as guidelines for the design of high-speed train nose shapes.