Optimization assessment of wind barriers for mitigating sudden wind fields in bridge tower areas based on train driving performance

Abstract

With the development of high-speed railways, the impact of sudden wind loads in the vicinity of bridge towers on train safety and stability has become a critical concern. To mitigate crosswind effects, the optimal design of wind barriers must consider not only wind fields and aerodynamic characteristics but also train dynamic responses. This study combines wind tunnel experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations to analyze the effects of wind barrier parameters on wind fields, train aerodynamics, and dynamic performance. Using a wind–train–bridge coupling vibration model, the study investigates how barrier parameters influence driving performance indicators such as derailment coefficient, wheel load reduction rate, and carbody acceleration. The results indicate that wind barriers can effectively reduce the shielding effect of bridge towers, enhance flow field stability, and reduce wind loads and lift forces on the train. A lower porosity and optimal barrier height can enhance wind resistance, but beyond a height of 3 m, there is little change in the wind resistance effect. Moreover, an appropriate wind barrier length helps to reduce dynamic response fluctuations, lower acceleration peaks, and improve safety and comfort during train operation.

Keywords

Bridge tower / Shielding effect / Wind barrier / High-speed train / Aerodynamic characteristics / Dynamic response

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2468213)

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