Effect of water oscillation inside lining cracks on interior pressure characteristics: Two high-speed trains intersect in a tunnel

Abstract

Water-rich cracks represent common tunnel defects. Intense pressure waves generated by trains traveling through tunnels may undergo enhancement within water-rich cracks. Using the re-normalization group (RNG) k - ε turbulence model and volume of fluid (VOF) method, this study analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution, spectral features, and influencing factors of pressure wave propagation in water-rich cracks when two high-speed trains intersect in a tunnel. The flow mechanisms underlying the pressure enhancement within water-rich cracks are also revealed. The main conclusions are as follows: 1) The positive and negative peak pressure coefficients in water-rich cracks are 1.34 and −2.36, with corresponding pressure gradient peaks of 31.41 kPa/s and −34.01 kPa/s. Compared to the tunnel wall, the peak pressure coefficients and gradients exhibit increases of 34.41%/44.63% and 31.61%/60.46%, respectively. 2) The dominant frequency of the pressure wave power spectral density (PSD) at the crack tip is 26.97% higher than that in the tunnel. The PSD peak value continuously increases with depth and is the largest at the crack tip, representing an increase of 9.36% compared to the tunnel. 3) An increase in crack width reduces the peaks of pressure waves, pressure gradients, and PSD, while increases in vertical and transverse depths amplify these peaks. Crack width has the most significant impact on pressure waves and pressure gradients, while transverse depth has the most significant effect on PSD peak values. 4) Driven by inertia and pressure differences, the water body oscillates variably, enhancing pressure fluctuation amplitude at the crack tip. The higher the water body’s movement velocity, the greater the pressure gradient at the crack tip. The above research results may provide a reference for crack harnessing in high-speed railway tunnels.

Keywords

high-speed train crossing / tunnel lining / water-rich crack / pressure wave / multiphase flow simulation

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