Aerodynamic noise reduction methods for key components of high-speed train pantographs

Abstract

The pantograph region constitutes one of the dominant aerodynamic sound sources in high-speed trains. In this study, a 1:3 scaled model of a representative pantograph structure was constructed, explicitly accounting for the geometric configuration of its rod components. To achieve noise mitigation, the pantograph design incorporated aerodynamically optimized cylindrical rods with bio-inspired seal-vibrissa-shaped profiles, perforated geometries, and elliptical cross-sections, etc. The flow dynamics and aeroacoustic characteristics within the pantograph region were systematically investigated through the wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity large-eddy simulation coupled with the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) acoustic analogy method. Results showed that the structural optimization of the pantograph key components greatly attenuated the vortex shedding intensity in the rod assemblies, inhibiting the initiation and evolution of large-scale Kármán vortex streets, reducing the surface pressure fluctuations, and enhancing the overall aerodynamic performance. In the optimized model of pantograph, the noise level at first tonal peak around 850 Hz is greatly mitigated and the second harmonic peak at 1750 Hz identified in the original model is absent, with overall sound pressure levels reduced by 6.3 dB(A) and 6.6 dB(A) along the streamwise and vertical planes, respectively. These findings validate the efficiency of the noise reduction methods introduced for the optimized pantograph structure.

Keywords

railway noise / high-speed train pantograph / aerodynamic noise prediction / flow behavior / noise reduction

References

[1] Zhu J-y, Zhang Q, Xu F-fet al.. Review on aerodynamic noise research of high-speed train [J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2021, 21(3): 39-56(in Chinese)

[2] Guo H-x, Fu S-q, Liu J-l. Numerical and experimental study on the aerodynamic noise characteristics of 600-km/h high-speed maglev trains [J]. Transportation Safety and Environment, 2024, 6(4): tdae017

[3] Kurita T. Development of external-noise reduction technologies for shinkansen high-speed trains [J]. Journal of Environment and Engineering, 2011, 64805-819

[4] Grosche F R, Meier G E A. Research at DLR Göttingen on bluff body aerodynamics, drag reduction by wake ventilation and active flow control [J]. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 2001, 89(1415): 1201-1218

[5] King W F, Pfizenmaier E. An experimental study of sound generated by flows around cylinders of different cross-section [J]. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2009, 328(3): 318-337

[6] Latorre I E, Thompson D J, Smith M G. Component-based model to predict aerodynamic noise from high-speed train pantographs [J]. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2017, 394: 280-305

[7] Shi F-c, Shi F-s, Tian X-det al.. Numerical study on aerodynamic noise reduction of pantograph [J]. Applied Sciences, 2022, 12(21): 10720

[8] García-Serna J, Pérez-Barrigón L, Cocero M J. New trends for design towards sustainability in chemical engineering: Green engineering [J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2007, 1331–37-30

[9] Kurita T, Hara M, Yamada Het al.. Reduction of pantograph noise of high-speed trains [J]. Journal of Mechanical Systems for Transportation and Logistics, 2010, 3(1): 63-74

[10] Brick H, Kohrs T, Sarradj Eet al.. Noise from highspeed trains: Experimental determination of the noise radiation of the pantograph [C]. Forum Acusticum 2011, 2011, 250(1): 612814-1

[11] Qin D, Du X, Li Tet al.. Numerical study on reduction in aerodynamic drag and noise of high-speed pantograph [J]. Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, 2024, 139(2): 2155-2173

[12] Qin D, Li T, Zhou Net al.. Aerodynamic drag and noise reduction of a pantograph of high-speed trains with a novel cavity structure [J]. Physics of Fluids, 2024, 36(2): 027108

[13] Qi L-z, Yang Z-g, Liu H-let al.. Numerical study on aerodynamic noise reduction of optimized pantograph [J]. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2025, 15721109-1125

[14] Li T, Qin D, Kan Xet al.. Study on aerodynamic drag and noise reduction of high-speed pantograph with streamwise holes [J]. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 2025, 19: 2426517

[15] Zhang J, Ding Y-s, Wang Y-het al.. A novel bionic Coleoptera pantograph deflector for aerodynamic drag reduction of a high-speed train [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2023, 30(6): 2064-2080

[16] Sagawa A, Ono S, Hidetoshi Het al.. Aeroacoustic noise generated from high-speed trains in Japan [C]. 5th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference and Exhibit, 1999, Bellevue, WA, USA, AIAAAIAA1999-1894

[17] CAO Yan, BAI Yu, WANG Qiang-feng. Complexity simulation on application of asymmetric bionic cross-section rod in pantographs of high-speed trains [J]. Complexity, 2018: 3087312. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3087312.

[18] Li Q-l, Li Z-m, Wei Z. Research on aerodynamics and noise of pantographs with circular cylinder and twisted cylinder [J]. Journal of Tongji University (Natural science edition), 2021, 49(8): 1177-1183(in Chinese)

[19] Huang S, Yang M-z, Li Z-wet al.. Aerodynamic noise numerical simulation and noise reduction of high-speed train bogie section [J]. Journal of Central South University (Science and Technology), 2011, 42(12): 3899-3904(in Chinese)

[20] Xiao Y-g, Tian H-q, Zhang H. Prediction of interior aerodynamic noise of high-speed train cab [J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2008, 8(3): 10-14(in Chinese)

[21] Zhao Y-y, Yang Z-g, Li Q-let al.. Analysis of the near-field and far-field sound pressure generated by high-speed trains pantograph system [J]. Applied Acoustics, 2020, 169: 107506

[22] Zhu J Y, Yuan Y Y, Hu Z Wet al.. Flow-induced noise from a seal-vibrissa-shaped cylinder [J]. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2024, 570: 118135

[23] Zhu J-y, Lu Y-h, Jia Qet al.. Investigation on the behavior of flow and aerodynamic noise generated around the tandem seal-vibrissa-shaped cylinder [J]. Physics of Fluids, 2023, 35(11): 117124

[24] Zhu J-y, Lu Y-h, Hu Z-wet al.. Behaviour of flow and aerodynamic noise generated from a circular cylinder attached by a splitter plate [J]. International Journal of Aeroacoustics, 2025, 2456311-337

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Central South University